Edo Election One of Nigeria’s Worst, Says Jake Epelle

Jake Epelle, founder of The Albino Foundation (TAF) Africa, has expressed deep concern over the recent Edo State governorship election, labeling it as one of the worst in Nigeria’s history. In his words, the event was marred by significant lapses despite the anticipation of a more credible performance by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“It’s unfortunate that I must describe this election as one of the worst, especially given the level of preparation and assurance we were promised,” Epelle remarked. He had hoped that INEC would use this opportunity to redeem itself following the trust deficit created in past elections. However, the election results, which declared APC’s Monday Okepboholo the winner with 291,667 votes, overshadowed PDP’s Asue Ighodalo (247,274 votes) and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata (22,763 votes), were met with widespread skepticism.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Epelle stressed the urgent need for reforms to address recurring logistical challenges. He expressed frustration with INEC’s reliance on the road transport unions, which he described as historically unreliable, despite being financially compensated.

Adding to the controversy, the election was followed by protests from PDP supporters, who accused INEC of fabricating results that did not reflect the will of the people. PDP governors, led by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, contested the accuracy of the results, arguing that they were inconsistent with the figures on IReV.

Epelle also referenced a joint statement by YIAGA Africa and the Women’s Trust Fund, highlighting the issues faced during the election and warning that failure to address these problems would jeopardize future elections, including the upcoming Ondo governorship race and the 2027 general elections.

Reflecting on previous elections, Epelle lamented how the political class has undermined the nation’s democratic values, despite the considerable financial resources invested in the electoral process. Interestingly, he observed that elections conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the difficulties, seemed more credible, with fairer outcomes.

“I am not speaking from a partisan perspective. I’m apolitical. Both APC and PDP failed to follow the rules in this election,” Epelle clarified.

He applauded the media, particularly Channels Television, for their commendable election coverage. He described the extensive reporting as one of the highlights of the election, lauding the journalists for their bravery in providing real-time updates from the field.