By ADEMOLA TIJANI
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council for the Edo State governorship election has voiced strong protests over the alleged illegal interruption of the collation process, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to follow its own established rules.
Speaking at a World Press Conference held at the PDP Situation Room in Government House, GRA, Benin City, the Chairman of the Campaign Council and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, stated, “The collation process was violently interrupted in several local government areas across the state.”
Fintiri further explained, “In Edo South, the collation processes in Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, and Egor were halted and illegally moved to the State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin, following the instructions of an Assistant Inspector General (AIG), which is a complete breach of the statutory collation process.”
The party emphasized, “Party agents and representatives were ordered to reconvene at the INEC State Headquarters in Aduwawa, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area for the continuation of the collation process. However, upon arrival, PDP agents were denied entry into the INEC State Office. In contrast, agents of the APC were granted unrestricted access to participate in the collation process. This clear favoritism is in violation of the Electoral Act’s provision on neutrality, as well as INEC’s own rules and regulations for the election.”
The PDP also alleged, “At about 9 p.m., senior officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accompanied by police, stormed the Etsako West Local Government collation center, opening fire indiscriminately. As a result of the attack, the council Vice Chairman, Honorable Benji Ojetu, sustained critical injuries from gunshot wounds. Due to this violent assault, the results from Wards 7 and 11 were not delivered.”
The party further claimed, “A 2km-long barricade was erected by the police around the INEC state office, effectively restricting movement and access to the area.”
The PDP added that it was the protest of Governor Godwin Obaseki that allowed entry into the INEC office, enabling him to register the party’s displeasure over the irregularities in the collation process.
The party concluded its statement by demanding, “We call for the immediate restoration of the collation process in accordance with the Electoral Act and the INEC rules and regulations for the election.”
