Inside Edo
Edo 2024: UK, US hails peaceful conduct, urges legal process to addressing electoral disputes
Written By: Adedamola Ogunbewon/Tunde Oso
25 Sep 2024 04:03 PM
The British High Commission has praised the Edo State governorship election on Saturday, September 21, as largely peaceful and urged for calm after the results were announced.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the commission emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and commended the people of Edo State for their participation in the election process.
“The UK commends the largely peaceful conduct of the elections and the voters of Edo State for their participation,” the statement read.
The Returning Officer for the September 21, Edo State governorship election, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State, declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the keenly-contested election at 9:26 p.m. on Sunday, September 22.
Kuta announced that Okpebholo, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, secured 291,667 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.
Labour Party’s (LP) Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), came a distant third with 22,763 votes.
The UK Commission advised parties who were unhappy with the results of the election to take their complaints to court.
They emphasised that all complaints should be handled fairly and transparently by the Independent National Electoral Commission and other pertinent authorities.
“Electoral and legal processes exist to address any challenges or disputes, and we encourage the authorities, including INEC, to examine all concerns transparently and in good faith,” the commission added.
In the same vein, the United States government commended the people of the State for their peaceful conduct during the September 21 election.
A statement signed by Ambassador Richard Mills Jr., United States Ambassador to Nigeria on the Embassy’s website said, “The U.S. Mission in Nigeria commends the people of Edo State for the widely peaceful conduct of gubernatorial elections on September 21 and reiterates calls for calm following the announcement of results.
According to Mills Jnr., “We commend Governor Obaseki’s appeal for peace and urge all stakeholders, including INEC, to support established electoral processes and respect legal procedures to challenge results.
“Transparency and due process are crucial to maintaining public confidence in any democratic system.
“The United States reaffirms our commitment to supporting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the statement concluded.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the commission emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and commended the people of Edo State for their participation in the election process.
“The UK commends the largely peaceful conduct of the elections and the voters of Edo State for their participation,” the statement read.
The Returning Officer for the September 21, Edo State governorship election, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State, declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the keenly-contested election at 9:26 p.m. on Sunday, September 22.
Kuta announced that Okpebholo, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, secured 291,667 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.
Labour Party’s (LP) Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), came a distant third with 22,763 votes.
The UK Commission advised parties who were unhappy with the results of the election to take their complaints to court.
They emphasised that all complaints should be handled fairly and transparently by the Independent National Electoral Commission and other pertinent authorities.
“Electoral and legal processes exist to address any challenges or disputes, and we encourage the authorities, including INEC, to examine all concerns transparently and in good faith,” the commission added.
In the same vein, the United States government commended the people of the State for their peaceful conduct during the September 21 election.
A statement signed by Ambassador Richard Mills Jr., United States Ambassador to Nigeria on the Embassy’s website said, “The U.S. Mission in Nigeria commends the people of Edo State for the widely peaceful conduct of gubernatorial elections on September 21 and reiterates calls for calm following the announcement of results.
According to Mills Jnr., “We commend Governor Obaseki’s appeal for peace and urge all stakeholders, including INEC, to support established electoral processes and respect legal procedures to challenge results.
“Transparency and due process are crucial to maintaining public confidence in any democratic system.
“The United States reaffirms our commitment to supporting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the statement concluded.
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