By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
There is confusion in Edo State over alleged attempts to tinker with the result of the governorship election held on Saturday, September 21.
Sundry media reports said that there has been a stunnorn resistance of the planned attempt to relocate the collation centres contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Sprcifically, a report by TheNiche stated that after immense pressure from Governor Godwin Obaseki, his Delta State counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori and other stakeholders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), decided to postpone the collation of results of the governorship election to 10 am on Sunday, September 22.
In a statement, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, announced the development in the early hours of this morning following increased pressure from the PDP for the umpire to stick to the provisions of the electoral law, against an earlier decision to jettison collation procedures.
“This is to inform the general public, political stakeholders and observers that the collation of results for the ongoing Edo State Governorship election will resume today (Sunday) 22nd September, 2024 at 10.00am,” the REC said.
PDP supporters had stormed the State INEC office after the umpire had stopped collation in several local governments in Edo South and moved the exercise to the state party secretariat over supposed security concerns.
Governor Obaseki, his Delta counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori and other concerned stakeholders raised the alarm over the jettisoning of the collation procedures, as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP, Osarodion Ogie Esq., noted that collation was halted in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area and moved to the State INEC office with party agents restricted from accessing the collation exercise.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State in the wee hours of today, Sunday, September 22, 2024, arrived at the head office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State.
The INEC head office in Benin, Edo capital, is the main collation centre for the ongoing governorship election.
Accompanied by his security aides, the governor walked into the office of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha. for a meeting which did not last more than 30 minutes.
Members of the All Progressives Congress led by Monday Okpebholo’s running mate, Dennis Idahosa, led protesters to demand the exit of Governor Obaseki from the INEC premises about 3.30am.
Idahosa, who was shouting on top of his voice from outside the gate, demanded alongside others for the exit of the governor as he stated that he had no business being there.
He said, “Obaseki must come out. He is not supposed to be here. He is not an INEC staff member. Nigeria Police should not compromise.”
The protesters at interval tried to gain entrance into the premises of INEC, but they were prevented from entering even when they repeatedly banged on the gate.
At some point during the drama, the DIG in charge of the election, Frank Mba, came into the premises with his team and headed to where Obaseki was sitting.
Late Saturday night tensions were rising in the ongoing Edo State Governorship election as the INEC acknowledged a second complaint regarding discrepancies in polling unit results.
In a statement posted on its official X account late Saturday night, INEC assured the public of swift action, vowing to investigate allegations of incorrect figures being entered into result sheets. [With TheNiche report]