More than two weeks after the off-cycle governorship election in Edo State, the women’s wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken to the streets in a peaceful protest, rejecting the outcome of the election and demanding the declaration of their candidate, Asue Ighodalo, as the rightful winner.

The women, dressed in black to symbolize their mourning, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of stealing their candidate’s victory and handing it over to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

The protest, which drew a large crowd of women, took place across several major streets in Benin City.

The protesters carried placards with bold inscriptions, calling for the removal of the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner and accusing INEC of colluding with the police to manipulate the election results in favor of the APC.

Messages on their placards included phrases such as “Edo PDP won the election, but INEC and police colluded to change it” and “INEC sack Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner.”

The women also marched to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council, seeking media attention for their cause.

Speaking on behalf of the women, Hon. Stella Okoro, a former chairman of Esan West Local Government Council, expressed the deep disappointment and frustration felt by the PDP women.

She claimed that their candidate, Asue Ighodalo, was the legitimate winner of the governorship election but was denied his mandate through what she described as a conspiracy between INEC and security forces.

Okoro stressed that the protest would continue until justice was served, adding that the women were determined to fight for the restoration of their stolen mandate.

“We are here today at NUJ to express our feelings, our pain,” Okoro said. “We are troubled because our mandate was stolen.

Edo people came out to vote for Asue Ighodalo, and now we, the mothers of Edo, are out here in black, mourning the injustice done to us.

We are not lions and tigers; we voted peacefully. Give us back our stolen mandate.”

She further alleged that the APC candidate had used intimidation tactics during the election, including deploying soldiers and police to arrest and harass PDP supporters.

“Our people were intimidated, arrested, and taken to Abuja. Some were held at the State CID. We fought hard to bring them back.

Despite all this, Edo people still voted for Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie, but their victory was stolen.

We will not rest until INEC gives us what is rightfully ours. The Almighty God is hearing our voices,” she added.

Also lending her voice to the protest, Lady Meg Agbokhai, the Oredo Women Leader of the PDP, vowed that the party’s women would do everything within their power to reclaim the mandate given to Ighodalo and Ogie.

She stressed that the PDP had worked tirelessly during the campaign, visiting all 192 wards in Edo State to rally support for their candidate.

According to her, the overwhelming turnout of voters on election day was proof that the people had chosen Ighodalo as their next governor.

“We are not violent people,” Agbokhai said. “We do not have lions or tigers; human beings came out to vote for the PDP.

We toured the entire state and worked hard to earn the trust of the people. Now, we are calling on INEC, the police, and everyone involved to give us back our mandate.

We labored for this victory, and we will not allow it to be taken from us. Edo people are mourning, and we will continue to cry out until justice is done.”

The protest by the PDP women has drawn attention to the controversies surrounding the Edo governorship election, which has been marred by allegations of electoral malpractices and manipulation.

The women’s demand for justice reflects the growing discontent within the PDP, as party members continue to call for a review of the election process and a fair outcome for their candidate.

The protest also highlights the role of women in political activism, as they have stepped forward to lead the charge in seeking justice for what they believe was a stolen mandate.