Yusuf Asamah Kadiri, SAN, the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party in Edo State, strongly criticized the recently concluded Edo governorship election, denouncing it as a scenario characterized by extensive transactions and the commercialization of votes.
Kadiri accused the major political entities—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)—of participating in widespread vote-buying, highlighting that the Labour Party refrained from engaging in such unethical conduct.
During an interview with Arise TV, Kadiri highlighted that the significant poverty levels in Edo State were exploited by political figures during the election process.
Kadiri stated, “The election was nothing short of a jamboree, with electorates being treated like commodities. In some areas, voters received as much as N30,000 in exchange for their votes.”
Kadiri stated that the Labour Party upholds true democratic principles and refuses to engage in unethical behavior, unlike the PDP and APC, which he suggested do not hold the same commitment to ethical conduct.
He added, “It is not in our character to buy votes or manipulate the electoral process. We remain true to our principles and will continue to fight for the interests of the people of Edo State.”
Kadiri emphasized that the Labour Party was dedicated to questioning the existing situation and opposing the turning of elections into commercial transactions, which he portrayed as a danger to democracy.
He added, “We need a system where people’s votes are based on conscience, not cash. What we witnessed on election day was a disgrace to democratic ideals.”
The results of the Edo governorship election have been extensively challenged, with accusations of rigging, voter manipulation, and irregularities emerging from different sources.
