By Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN—EDO State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has lost the opportunity to demonstrate to Nigerians and the international community that it can conduct a free, fair and credible election with the way and manner it handled the just concluded governorship election in the state.

Orbih, who stated this in an interview with Vanguard in Benin, Tuesday, also called on the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu and the current management of the commission to resign from office as they have outlived their usefulness to themselves and Nigerians.

He said, “Edo State was a test case for INEC to show and demonstrate to Nigerians and the world that they have the capacity to conduct a free, fair and credible election in Nigeria. They failed that test woefully. One thing that has come out from Edo election is that democracy in Nigeria is under threat from those who are supposed to be unbiased umpires.”

“With what happened in Edo State, I made bold to call on the INEC chairman, Prof. Yakubu and his Commissioners to resign from their positions because as long as they remain in office, there will be no credible election in the country and as it is sad when participants in an election no longer have confidence in the system.

“If there will be 2019, politicians must come out with a common voice to demand for the resignation of the INEC chairman and his commissioner.

Chief Orbih,  explained that the party would leave no stone un-turn to  prove that  results of the election as declared by INEC were manipulated, adding that the party will expose the alleged corruption and incompetence of the electoral commission.

Asked if the PDP will approach the election petition tribunal to seek redress, he said, “Of course, we are going to file our petition at the election petitions tribunal. We will give it our all. If nothing else, to expose to Nigerians how corrupt and incompetent the INEC is, under its  present leadership.

“Our lawyers are busy, they are working.  Until they formally file a petition, all I can say is that we are going to challenge the result of this election at the tribunal.

“We will pursue this matter to the logical conclusion and I believe that the judiciary has a role to play to save  democracy  and give Nigerians hope that, in a country where people do things with impunity, people can still approach the judiciary for justice,” he added.

On whether the party was convinced that the outcome of the tribunal would not end in favour of the candidate returned elected by the INEC, as was the case in Bayelsa and Kogi, Orbih noted that the PDP would give the tribunal the benefit of doubt.

According to him, “What happened in Kogi is not what has happened in Edo. What happened in Bayelsa is not what has happened in Edo.

“We must give that benefit of doubt, rather than resort to self-help or taking laws into our hands. We want to test this obvious fraudulent manipulation of  INEC, in collaboration with the state government, in the election result in the judiciary.”

He however, commended the party’s candidate for what he described as “political maturity” in calming his supporters and preventing a violent protest.

“For me, I want to congratulate him for his political maturity.  His faith and belief in God, that at the end of the day justice will prevail, has saved the day.”

As out going governor, I will remain loyal to the Kingdom and I am proud I will still be in office when the whole world will be converging here for your coronation.”