L-R: Okpebholo, Ighodalo, Akpata
As far as many people are concerned, the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the Edo State gubernatorial contest on Sunday, September 22, was simply a fait accompli and not the outcome of an election.
For them, it was long predetermined. All that happened was working from the answer to the question by shameless national institutions. An unmitigated travesty of electoral contest.
It is an open secret that before the election, a viral video of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while canvassing votes from would be delegates in the 2023 presidential election, vowing to hand over Edo State to APC as a sitting President was repeatedly circulated by APC e-rat. It was ostensibly to remind Tinubu, the institutions involved and the general public that there was an ‘existing pact’, or so it seems, to deliver Edo State to APC by hook or crook.
What is more, the leadership and chieftains of the APC in the state made it a policy to boast, if not threaten other parties, of its readiness to unleash “federal might”, a euphemism for deploying national institutions to corrupt, manipulate and actualize what the ‘powers that be’ wanted.
With a candidate handicapped in virtually all aspects imaginable, nothing short of circumventing due process, introducing crisis and diversionary tactics could have saved them from defeat. But even with an official seal of victory that has been heavily discredited, they are still the butt of cruel jokes across the land and beyond.
What a shame, they made good their despicable threat. It was a victory procured largely via non-compliance with the rules and regulations known and associated with electoral contests.
It’s disheartening to witness the lengths some people can go to seize power, disregarding the very principles that uphold democratic processes.
In a blatant violation of electoral laws, they resorted to intimidation and manipulation, creating a climate of fear that overshadowed the integrity of the elections. Their tactics included creating crises to distract the public from the blatant injustices unfolding and making it difficult for citizens to voice their dissent.
With the invocation of coercive measures, they snatched what can only be described as a tainted victory, one heavily stained by the lack of legitimacy and public support. Such actions not only erode the foundation of democracy but also set a dangerous precedent for future governance.
The aftermath leaves a populace grappling with disillusionment, wondering if their voices will ever truly matter. The once-clear path to reform and progress now appears obstructed by the shadows of authoritarianism.
As the dust refuses to settle, it becomes crucial to rally for accountability and ensure that the struggle for genuine democratic values continues, lest we allow this betrayal to define our political landscape where the despicable philosophy of “grab it, snatch it and run with it” reigns supreme.
• Orobosa writes from Benin City
