By Kingston Magare
Results from 16 out the 18 local government areas so far released for the Edo State governorship elections indicates that the All-Pogressive Congress candidate Monday Okpebholo, is leading the People’s Democratic Party candidate Asue Ighodalo and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata.
The results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, is against the background of protest by the supporters of the PDP who are alleging that the election has been rigged in favour of the APC candidate. Figures released by the INEC …APC: 244,549, PDP: 195,954.
But this has not gone down well with the PDP, according to Adamawa State governor Ahmadu Fintiri who is monitoring the polls on behalf of the PDP, party agents except of those of the APC were not allowed into the offices of the INEC. He also said during a press conference on Sunday that collation of results was violent interrupted in some LGAs.
“In Edo South, local government collation processes were stopped in Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, and Egor and moved illegally to the State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin on the instructions of an Assistant Inspector General (AIG), in complete breach of the statutory collation process,” Fintiri said.
“Affected party agents and representatives were then ordered to converge on the INEC State Headquarters in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area for the completion of the collation exercise.
“Upon arrival, agents of the PDP were not allowed into the INEC State Office for the exercise.
“On the other hand, agents of the APC were allowed unfettered access into the INEC premises to participate in the collation process. This was also in breach of the Electoral Act section on neutrality, as well as the rules and regulations published for these elections.”
He added that APC party officials and the police invaded the Etsako West LGA collation centre and began “shooting indiscriminately”.
“As a result of the attack, the council vice chairman was left in a critical condition from a shooting injury. Because of this assault, the expected results from Wards 7 and 11 were not delivered,” he said.
“At the INEC state office, a 2km barricade was created by the police to cordon off access, thereby restricting movement in the area.”
