Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has condemned the conduct of Saturday’s governorship election but called for calm.
He also encouraged aggrieved parties to seek redress in court.
Mr Obaseki’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lost the election to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, in the keenly contested election.
Mr Obaseki said in a recorded video he shared via his X account apparently after the APC candidate was declared winner of the election on Sunday.
“Clearly it is obvious to the least discerning, the amount of impunity and reckless disregard for processes and law that was displayed in this gubernatorial election,”
“The attractive thing about democracy is the power it bestows on the people to choose who governs them. Therefore, when this power is blatantly seized from the people, it is not just a tragedy but a travesty of democracy,” he said.
“In a democracy there are always safeguards for addressing grievances and we hope that all those affected will seek resolution for this blatant disregard of law and process.”