The Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee has issued a stern warning to political actors in Edo State, urging them to keep away from any makes an attempt to disrupt the collation of gubernatorial election outcomes.
Following reviews of rising tensions and protests at INEC’s headquarters after the conclusion of the elections on Saturday, INEC’s Nationwide Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, condemned the actions of some political figures as inappropriate.
In a press release on Sunday, Haruna careworn that the collation course of would proceed as scheduled, in full compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
Haruna reassured the general public that the collation of outcomes from polling items and wards was already underway, with outcomes efficiently uploaded for overview.
He expressed concern a couple of current incident involving threats to INEC’s workplace in Okpoba Okha Native Authorities Space, which triggered a stampede, injuring one official. He additional criticised the demonstrations by political actors at INEC’s state headquarters, declaring such actions uncalled for and unacceptable.
“We’re equally disturbed by the in a single day presence and demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at our State Head Workplace forward of the graduation of the ultimate collation. These actions are uncalled for. No one ought to disrupt the method at any stage, and nobody shall be allowed to profit from lawlessness,” Haruna said.
Haruna additionally careworn that INEC has mechanisms for addressing complaints in the course of the collation course of, together with the facility to overview outcomes declared below duress. He assured that accredited celebration brokers, observers, and the media would have unimpeded entry to all collation centres and known as on safety companies to take care of their professionalism in securing the finalisation of the outcomes.
“There’s a mechanism for redressing complaints throughout collation, together with the facility to overview outcomes declared below duress. The Fee won’t hesitate to invoke such powers the place vital. Accredited celebration brokers, observers, and the media needs to be granted unimpeded entry to all collation centres.
“The Fee calls on the safety companies to proceed sustaining the identical vigilance and professionalism that ensured the peaceable conduct of the election as we conclude the method,” he added.
