On Tuesday, December 4, 2024, Kassim Afegbua, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), criticized the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership’s report claiming that the September 21 Edo State governorship election was rigged.
The Athena Centre, a research institute that describes itself as non-partisan, had released a report over the weekend alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) mishandled the election. The report claimed that the election, which saw APC candidate Monday Okpebholo emerge victorious with 291,667 votes, was compromised. Okpebholo defeated his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 247,274 votes.
Afegbua, speaking on Channels Television, strongly disagreed with the Athena Centre’s findings. He accused the PDP of being sore losers and claimed that the report was biased, reflecting the party’s views rather than an objective analysis.
“Athena Centre’s report/claims of rigging in the Edo governorship election are ‘partisan’ and only echoed PDP’s thoughts,” Afegbua stated.
