The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has rejected the outcome of the recently concluded bye-elections for the Edo Central senatorial district and the Ovia Federal Constituency, describing the process as a calculated subversion of democracy.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Sunday, August 17, 2025, declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates, Joseph Ikpea and Omosede Igbinedion, as winners of the senatorial and House of Representatives seats, respectively.

However, in a statement issued shortly after the announcement, the Elections, Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Chris Nehikhare, dismissed the results, alleging that the polls were marred by irregularities and what he described as deliberate sabotage by INEC.

According to Nehikhare, the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the election was not a technical failure but an intentional act aimed at manipulating the process in favour of the APC.

“What we witnessed was not a technical failure but a deliberate sabotage by INEC to provide room for manipulation in cohort with APC, and creates an unfair advantage for the APC and renders the entire process compromised,” he stated.

He further criticized the conduct of INEC, asserting that the electoral body has repeatedly failed to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.

“In any responsible society, the management of INEC would by now have been sacked and prosecuted for repeatedly compromising the electoral process,” Nehikhare added.

He insisted that the election was a setback for the nation’s democracy and called for greater accountability and transparency in the management of electoral processes moving forward.

“Nigerians deserve elections that are free, fair, and credible and not exercises where the outcome is predetermined. Until our elections are adequately prepared for and conducted transparently, democracy in Nigeria will remain under siege,” Nehihkare added.