The Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee has mentioned it should immediately (Wednesday)make out there to the Peoples Democratic Occasion electoral supplies for the September 21 Edo State governorship ballot.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Augbum Onuoha, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday amid complaints of delay by the PDP.
In a press release on Monday, the PDP Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, had alleged that INEC officers have been intentionally withholding the electoral supplies to allegedly physician them so as to conceal the alleged rigging of the ballot.
In response to the PDP’s considerations, the REC informed our correspondent on Tuesday that the PDP could be given entry to the election supplies immediately.
“We’ve got requested them to return tomorrow (Wednesday),” the REC mentioned.
In a press release on Tuesday, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, accused INEC of using delay techniques in alleged connivance with the All Progressives Congress to hinder justice and frustrate the efforts of the PDP to problem the end result of the ballot in courtroom.
INEC had declared the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, winner of the ballot with 291,667 votes, to edge out PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who recorded 247,274 votes.
However the PDP and Ighodalo alleged manipulation of the ballot, vowing to problem the end in courtroom.
To have the ability to file a petition difficult the ballot consequence, they secured a courtroom order, directing INEC to permit them to examine the electoral supplies.
They, nevertheless, expressed frustration that INEC had refused to grant them entry.
Talking on the state of affairs, Nehikhare mentioned, “We’re conscious that the clandestine and surreptitious sport plan is to frustrate the PDP’s enchantment and make sure the petition shouldn’t be filed earlier than the Saturday deadline.”
The commissioner additionally accused the APC of planning to burn the INEC workplace in order to destroy the BVAS machines and different electoral supplies in an try to eradicate proof of their alleged ‘electoral fraud.’
On Monday, the PDP authorized workforce, led by Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN), had visited the INEC headquarters in Benin Metropolis, to entry the BIVAS machine, voters register, poll papers and different election supplies however was refused entry to the supplies regardless of presenting the courtroom order to INEC officers.
On Tuesday, the ladies wing of the Edo PDP staged a protest demanding the return of the allegedly stolen mandate of Ighodalo.
The ladies, who have been clad in black apparel and carried placards of varied inscriptions, vowed that they might proceed to protest till their demand was realised.
Addressing Journalists in Benin, spokesperson for the group and former Chairman of the Esan West Native Authorities Council, Stella Okoro, mentioned they have been deeply pained by the end result of the election.
She added, “We’re right here immediately on the NUJ, to precise our emotions, and our pains. We’re troubled due to our stolen mandate. Our stolen mandate is what we’re asking for.
“We aren’t lions and tigers, we voted. Edo folks got here out to vote for Asue Ighodalo and that’s the reason we moms are right here immediately, we’re in pains, we’re mourning, we’re on blacks, telling them to present us again our stolen mandate.
“They used INEC, police and troopers to rob us. Earlier than the election, they have been embarrassing our little kids.
“They arrested our folks and so they have been taken to Abuja, some have been within the State CID. We aren’t joyful. We’ve got by no means seen this sort of election earlier than.
“Upon all of the intimidation, upon all the cash they spent, Edo folks mentioned no. It’s Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie they need and so they did and so they gained.
“Give us our mandate or else we won’t relaxation till they provide it to us. The Almighty God is listening to the ladies’s voice.”
However in response to the agitation by the PDP, the Director of Publicity, Edo APC Governorship Marketing campaign Council, denied APC’s involvement within the matter.
He mentioned, “The All Progressives Congress learn the diatribe and assault on our social gathering by the defeated Peoples Democratic Occasion in our pricey state, with utter dismay on the falsehood, they’ve designed to mischievously misrepresent the true state of affairs on the Benin Workplace of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the presence of the APC youths on the INEC workplace is to safeguard our hard-earned victory, particularly as we now have trusted info that the PDP Chairman in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi, has deliberate to make the most of his acquittance with a feminine INEC ICT division workers, from one of many neighbouring states, to falsify some already declared outcomes.
“We name on Nigerians to ignore the baseless assertion credited to Asue Media Organisation, by means of one Erhabor Emokpae, accusing the police and different regulation enforcement companies of planning to govern the electoral course of to favour our social gathering.
“This assertion is an open demonstration of poor understanding of what electoral course of is. Ighodalo and PDP should be reminded that the 2024 Edo State governorship election has been carried out and gained by distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo over over two weeks in the past.
“We are going to, nonetheless, excuse their confusion, which should be a results of concussion they suffered from the knockdown on September 21, 2024, and to easily inform them that the problem they now face is a authorized course of, which has now turn into their albatross.
“The All Progressives Congress has no blame within the PDP judicial mishap.”
