The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will exercise the power to review results declared under duress in the collation of results from the governorship election in Edo State.

INEC said this on Sunday in a statement signed by the National Commissioner & Member, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.

“Following the conclusion of voting yesterday, the Commission activated the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and uploaded the Polling Unit results in earnest,” Haruna said. 

“The same results have also been collated from all the 192 Wards. Similarly, collation has been concluded in most of the Local Government Areas and the designated officials are already at the collation centre in Benin City, Edo or on their way. We are set to commence State-level collation.

“However, the Commission received a deeply disturbing report from our Resident Electoral Commissioner of a threat to our  office in Okpoba Okha Local Government Area yesterday, resulting in a stampede in which one of our officials was injured. 

“We are similarly distubed by the overnight presence and  demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at our State Head Office ahead of the commencement of final collation. 

“These actions are uncalled for. Nobody should disrupt the process at any stage and no one will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the collation of result will proceed as provided by the Electoral Act 2022 and our regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections. 

“There is a mechanism for redressing complaints during collation, including the power to review results declared under duress. The Commission will not hesitate to invoke such powers where necessary.”

Haruna said cccredited party agents, observers and the media should be granted unimpeded access to all collation centres.

INEC has also called on the security agencies to continue to maintain the same vigilance and professionalism that led to the peaceful conduct of the election as they conclude the process.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning to invade the collation centers to change the results of the Edo State governorship election that was held on Saturday.

The PDP made the allegation against the APC on Saturday night in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts of plots by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use its armed thugs to violently assault the Edo State Governorship election Collation Center, disrupt the collation process and change results from the Polling Units which have our candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo in clear lead,” Ologunagba said.

“Intelligence available to the PDP indicates that the APC is mounting pressure on the INEC Chairman and Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to suspend the collation process so as to make way for the manipulation of the INEC Portal and replace the real results from the Units with fabricated figures in favour of the APC.

“Our Party has also been made aware that the APC is mounting pressure on the Military to withdraw from their positions so as to enable the APC convey its armed thugs to disrupt and manipulate the collation process.

“The PDP in very strong terms cautions INEC and the APC to note that the people of Edo State already have authentic results from the Polling Units across the State and that any attempt by anybody or group whatsoever to alter the results will inflame the already charged situation with very severe consequences on perpetrators.”

Ologunagba warned INEC not to lose sight of the violent protest that trailed the criminal attempt by the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari to alter the outcome of the 2023 governorship election in that state which nearly led to the death of some INEC officials.

He further warned INEC and the APC to note that any attempt to change the results of the Edo State governorship election will provoke worse consequences.

Ologunagba said this is because he people have indicated their readiness to use every means allowed in a democracy including legitimate physical confrontation if necessary to protect their votes.

The PDP in the statement also charged the Electoral Commission to resist the pressure by the APC and ensure that nobody tampers with the results as obtained from the Polling Units.

“Our Party commends the military for its professionalism in defending our democracy in the Edo State governorship election and urges the Military High Command not to succumb to the pressure from the APC to withdraw from their posts and allow for the manipulation of the process,” the PDP spokesman said.

“The PDP again charges the people of Edo State to remain at the Coalition Center in their numbers and monitor the collation process so as to ensure that their will as expressed in the election is affirmed.”

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has praised the orderly execution of the local government elections conducted throughout the state on Saturday.

After casting his ballot at Polling Unit 007 in Mbaguzo, Ashishi Owo, Nkanu East Local Government Area, Mbah referred to the process as a demonstration of “democracy in action.”

He commended the well-organized and tranquil environment, describing it as the most peaceful local government election the state has witnessed.

The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to local government autonomy, highlighting its significance in making governance more accessible to the people.

He also committed to collaborating with the elected representatives, irrespective of their political party.

Mbah said, ”The exercise is very peaceful. It started on time.

”This is democracy and it is a very important exercise because we are trying to elect people who will lead our people at the grassroots.

“The local government had always operated as an autonomous arm of the government. Our mandate is to ensure that our people are lifted from the level of poverty.

“We are going to support the local government to allow their programmes.”

Don’t miss this: Edo election: Ighodalo laments security threats

On the turnout of voters at his polling unit, Mbah said, ”The voters’ turnout showed that people believe that the government‘s decision will touch their lives.

“People are becoming increasingly aware that government will touch their lives.

”People have resolved to choose those that will lead them. It must be done in a democratic way and we won’t take it for granted.

“So, if it’s a democracy, we must allow it to run as a democracy. This is a level-playing game for everybody.”

Our correspondent noted that, in general, electoral materials arrived significantly late at most polling stations. However, voter turnout was so low that in the majority of polling stations, only a small group of five to ten voters were observed.

The PUNCH

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the ongoing governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has lamented the security threats to party members.

Ighodalo on Saturday morning alleged that the police had arrested a party member in Ward 8 Uromi Unit 3 of Edo.

“In Uromi unit 3, one of our supporters was arrested there about an hour ago by men in mufti carrying guns. Nobody should carry guns into a polling unit,” he said. 

“That is against the law. But you just see people behaving indiscriminately, oppressing and trying to intimidate our folks.”

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are reportedly absent at Ighodalo’s polling unit.

According to reporters on ground in Edo State, Idinrio in Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area (LGA) is yet to witness any election activities as the community is calm and quiet as a graveyard.

As at the time of this report, there was no sign of INEC officials and other political party stakeholders at Ighodalo’s polling unit.

An update from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also confirmed the absence of INEC officials at the polling unit of the LP candidate.

It added that Ighodalo is expected to vote at Okaegben ward one, polling unit 3, located at a vocational centre in Ewohimi, Edo Central Senatorial District.

An angry voter, Christopher Adoghe was also said to have been heard slamming  INEC officials over delay in the start of accreditation and voting at wards 1, unit 3.

“We have been here since 7 O’clock yet, no sight of INEC officials. This is almost 10 and nothing is happening. We no go gree o! We no even see INEC,” Adoghe lamented. 

“We no see anybody. Only security men. See as everybody sat but no sign of INEC. No accreditation, nothing is going on.”

The Labour Party (LP) candidate for the ongoing governorship election in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, has cast his vote.

Akpata on Saturday morning cast his vote at his polling unit at Ward 06, Oredo Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo.

After voting, Akpata spoke to journalists about his observation of the process.

He said he would verify all feedback from other parts of the state before issuing a statement.

“We are getting some concerning feedback from across the state but I’m not the kind of person that will make any statement until I verify. We will be observing the process,” he said.

The lawyer had on Friday evening debunked reports claiming that he had stepped down from contesting the governorship election.

“Let me be unequivocally clear: I AM STILL IN THE RACE,” the LP gubernatorial candidate said in a post he shared on his official X account.

“The notion that I would step down on the eve of the election, after the overwhelming support received from the good people of our State, borders on delusion.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted that Senator Monday Okpebholo is still its candidate for the governorship election in Edo State on Saturday.

The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka clarified the position of the party in a statement from Abuja in the early hours of Saturday.

According to Morka, the clarification is very important after fake news emerged that a magistrate court had disqualified Okpebholo from contesting.

“In the final hours of the Edo gubernatorial election scheduled to hold Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, certain political parties have desperately resorted to forgery and disinformation on our candidate,” he said.

“The blackmail is to the extent of circulating a fake magistrate court ruling purportedly disqualifying Sen.Okpebholo, the APC gubernatorial candidate in the election.

“The circulated ruling is fake, a fabrication and an act of pure desperation in the face of their imminent defeat at the polls,” Morka said.

He said the magistrate court that purportedly issued the fake ruling had issued a disclaimer, stating categorically that it did not emanate from him.

Morka added that the fake ruling meant to sow seeds of doubt about the APC candidate, was a blatant and calculated attempt to subvert the will of the Edo electorate.

“We call on our law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and bring the perpetrators of  this falsehood to book,” he said.

He, therefore, urged Edo voters to remain vigilant and resolute in the exercise of their democratic rights at the polls.

He expressed trust that Edo people would ignore this and other illegal devices by desperate candidates and their parties to subvert the election.

“Sen. Monday Okpebholo is and remains, the standard bearer of the APC in Edo gubernatorial election,” Morka stated.