The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today (Wednesday) announced plans to deliver election materials to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Edo State gubernatorial election to be held on September 21.
This development follows complaints from PDP regarding delays in accessing these important materials.
Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Ogbun Onuoha, in an interview with Punch on Tuesday, confirmed that the PDP will receive election materials aimed at alleviating concerns about possible manipulation of election results. .
The situation worsened on Monday when the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, accused INEC of deliberately withholding and falsifying election materials and concealing evidence of electoral fraud.
In response to these allegations, the REC said, “We have asked them to come tomorrow (Wednesday) to access the materials.”
Edo State Commissioner for Communications and Orientation, Mr. Chris Osa Nehikare, stated on the matter that INEC was employing delaying tactics allegedly colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to obstruct justice. he accused.
Nehikare claimed that these maneuvers were aimed at frustrating the PDP’s efforts to challenge the election results in court.
According to the election results released by INEC, the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpeboro, won with 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the PDP who secured 247,274 votes.
In response to these results, both the PDP and Ighodalo parties claimed election manipulation and vowed to challenge the results in court.
In furtherance of this legal challenge, the PDP secured a court order allowing access to election materials.
However, INEC’s alleged denial of access to these materials sparked dissatisfaction and Mr Nehikare reacted.
Adding to the tension, he accused the APC of planning to set fire to the INEC offices to destroy BIVAS machines and other election materials, thereby destroying evidence of alleged election fraud.
On Monday, the PDP legal team led by Olusegun Jolawo (SAN) visited INEC headquarters in Benin City seeking access to BIVAS machines, voter registers, ballot papers and other election materials, but despite filing a court order was rejected regardless. .
In a show of solidarity, the women wing of the Edo PDP staged a protest on Tuesday, demanding the return of the mandate they claim was stolen by Ighodaro.
They wore black costumes and brandished placards with various inscriptions, vowing to continue demonstrating until their demands were met.
Stella Okoro, the group’s spokesperson and former chairperson of the Esan West Local Government Council, told reporters in Benin that she was “deeply saddened by the election results,” expressing her dissatisfaction with the election results. .
She further added, “We come to the National University today to express our feelings and pain. We are in trouble because our mission was stolen. is what we are looking for.
“We are not lions or tigers, we voted. Edo people came to vote for Asue Ighodaro and that is why we mothers are here today, I They were suffering, they were grieving, and they said to the black people, give us back the mission that was stolen from us.
“They robbed us with INEC, police and soldiers. Before the elections, they embarrassed our sons and daughters.
“They arrested our people and took them to Abuja, some of whom are being held in the state CID. We are not happy. We have never seen an election like this before.
“To all the threats, to all the money spent, the people of Edo said no. What they wanted was Asue Ighodaro and Osarodion Ogie, and they achieved that and won.
“Give us a mission or we will not rest until they give it to us. God Almighty hears the voices of women.”
However, in response to the PDP’s agitation, the Public Relations Manager of the Edo APC Governorship Election Council denied any involvement of the APC in the matter.
He said: “The All Progressives Congress has read the accusations and attacks on our party by the Peoples Democratic Party which lost in our dear state, expresses its complete regret at the falsehoods and demands that the real situation at the Benin Independent Office be revealed. “It was an attempt to mischievously distort the story,” he said. National Election Commission.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the presence of APC youths at the INEC office is particularly important because we have received credible information that the Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Agiegbemi, is planning to use his power. A female INEC ICT department staff member from one of the neighboring states has tacitly admitted that she has falsified some of the results already declared. .
“We appeal to Nigerians to debunk the evidence presented by the Asue media organization, which, through Elhabor Emokpaye, accuses the police and other law enforcement agencies of plotting to manipulate the electoral process in favor of our party. Requests to ignore statements that do not exist.
“This statement blatantly shows a lack of understanding of what the electoral process is. It must be recalled that Senator Monday Okpebolo won.
“Nonetheless, we forgive their confusion, which must be the result of the concussion they sustained in the knockdown on September 21, 2024, and the challenges they currently face in the legal process. I just want to tell them that this has become an albatross for them.”
“The All Progressives Congress has no responsibility for the judicial mishaps of the PDP.”
