As the collation of final results for the Edo State governorship election continues, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect the will of the people and ensure a transparent outcome.

Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, made this plea in a statement on Sunday, urging INEC to uphold electoral integrity and avoid actions that could lead to a contested result.

“In light of the economic and security challenges currently facing the nation, we expect that INEC and all stakeholders involved in the Edo Governorship Elections will respect the sovereign wishes of the people of Edo State,” Governor Mohammed said.

He stressed that at such a critical time, Nigeria cannot afford the unpredictability that could arise from a disputed election result.

Governor Mohammed further expressed concern over what he described as a growing “threat to democracy” posed by the alleged “state capture inclination” of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government under President Bola Tinubu.

He warned against any attempts to manipulate the outcome, noting that such actions could undermine democratic principles in the country.

The PDP governors’ statement comes as INEC moves closer to concluding the collation of results, with the final outcome of the highly competitive election yet to be declared.

Tensions have risen across the state as both leading parties, the PDP and APC, remain locked in a tight race.

The PDP Governors’ Forum urged all parties to act responsibly, emphasizing that respect for the people’s mandate is essential for preserving peace and stability in Edo State and across Nigeria.