EDO GUBER: Aisha Yesufu Blasts Gov. Obaseki Over Election Defeat

***Questions His Commitment to Democracy Amid Controversial Tenure And Surprise INEC Appearance

In a fiery and unreserved critique, renowned socio-political activist Aisha Yesufu has slammed Governor Godwin Obaseki following his public outcry over the outcome of the recent Edo State governorship election. The election, which concluded on September 21, 2024, saw Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerge as the clear winner, a result that apparently did not sit well with Governor Obaseki.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially announced on Sunday that Okpebholo secured victory in 11 local government areas, defeating his rivals Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who won 7 local government areas, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), who failed to clinch any.

INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, declared Okpebholo the winner with a total of 291,667 votes, outpacing Ighodalo, who gathered 247,274 votes, and Akpata, who lagged far behind with only 18,737 votes.

In a dramatic twist, Governor Obaseki made a surprise appearance at the INEC collation center at around 2 a.m. on Sunday, reportedly seeking firsthand information about the election results. However, his presence was short-lived, as he was escorted out by a team of policemen led by Deputy Inspector General Frank Mbah around 4:10 a.m.

Reacting to Obaseki’s dissatisfaction with the election outcome, Aisha Yesufu took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to deliver a scathing rebuke, questioning the Governor’s sudden concern for democratic principles.

“I am looking for a video where Obaseki was speaking about the principles of democracy. Please share if you have it,” Yesufu wrote sarcastically.

She went on to highlight Obaseki’s controversial tenure, pointing out, “Obaseki that refused for 4 years to swear in 14 Edo House of Assembly members.

“Obaseki that refused to swear in judges. He swore in 5 out of 8. Obaseki that got his Deputy Governor impeached. He is talking about democracy under attack.”

Yesufu’s pointed criticism has added fuel to an already heated political debate, drawing widespread attention to Obaseki’s track record and raising questions about his commitment to democratic values.

As the dust settles from the election, many are left pondering whether Obaseki’s concerns are genuine or merely a case of political sour grapes in the wake of his party’s defeat.