Police Throw Obaseki out of INEC Centre
There is palpable tension within the two leading parties – the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressive Congress – in the Saturday election in Edo State as the Independent National Electoral Commission is set to begin collation of results at 11:00 AM.
Obaseki looking gloomy before he was walked out of the INEC centre
Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo, were walked out of the collation centre on Sunday morning. A policeman said the decision to walk out the governor stemmed from his recent threat to burn down Nigeria if his candidate loses the election.
Hon Dennis Idahosa: Obaseki has no business at INEC
The APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Dennis Idahosa (Denco) had expressed displeasure over the governor’s presence at the collation centre, saying, “Obaseki has to come out – he is a nobody.”
A police officer assuaged the Idahosa’s fear about Obaseki’s presence: “We went with him to all offices he went to. We had to follow him because he said he wants to burn (down) Nigeria”.
Obaseki was later led out of the venue by DIG Frank Mba, who was deployed to the state to monitor the election.
Meanwhile, Ighodalo expressed concern about the credibility of the election due to the alleged denial of his agents’ access to the INEC headquarters in Benin City.
“The problem is our agents started telling us that they’re not being allowed into INEC headquarters,” he said, adding
“There are too many funny things going on all of a sudden, and there seems to be INEC and police complicity working together. And this cannot be right for democracy in this country. They’re trying to subvert the will of the people of Edo state, and it will not happen.”
Yiaga Africa weighing in said, “We want to emphasise that collating LGA results at the state headquarters violates the established procedure for results collation.
“We urge @inecnigeria to stand firm against intimidation and interference. Electoral law permits accredited observers, media, and party agents to monitor results collation at all levels. Failure to address these issues risks undermining the legitimacy of what has been a peaceful process since its commencement.”
The Edo State governorship election features 17 candidates on the ballot, including the frontrunners, Olumide Akpata (Labour Party), Asue Ighodalo (PDP), and Monday Okpebholo (APC).
