By Kingston Magare 3.2.2026
Former Edo State governor and presently Senator in the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole has spoken about the ills of electoral fraud.
The former Nigeria Labour Congress president turned politician said during an interview with News Central that electoral fraud destroys voters’ confidence and public trust in elections. Just like was seen in Edo State in September 2025 where the governorship election was rigged in favour of the All-Progressive Congress candidate Monday Okpebholo, heavily backed and supported by Senator Oshiomhole.
Electoral observers described the election as a rape on democracy, following glaring falsification of figures.
“The worst crime you can commit is to cheat on elections,” Oshiomhole pontificated.
He said that there are laws against cheating in elections but hardly has any politician or electoral officer has been punished.
“There are penalties for a presiding officer who willfully acts in a manner that undermines the will of the electorate or twists or destroys the ballot sheet… to turn the outcome in favour of the loser,” Oshiomhole said.
Reflecting on his 2012 re-election in Edo State, he said he won across all 18 local government areas without resorting to inducements. “My 2012 re-election in Edo State, I won in all the 18 local government areas. I did not give money to anybody,” he said.
Oshiomhole noted that he made his position on vote buying clear to voters at the time. “Instead, I told the voters, if my opponent, who allegedly had money to give you, you can collect it, no receipt, no refund. But I have no money to give you, but I will give you my all in terms of development,” he said.
Oshiomhole right and his man Monday Okpebholo.