By Nefishetu Yakubu
Benin, Oct. 10, 2024 (NAN) — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have clashed over the procedures and timing for inspecting the election materials from the recently concluded Edo governorship election.
The election petition tribunal had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide all electoral materials to the PDP and its candidate for inspection.
The News Agency of Nigeria (THEGAVEL) reports that INEC had scheduled the inspection for October 9, but it did not commence as planned due to objections raised by the APC. The APC contended that the voters’ register should be inspected before the BVAS machines. They also argued that they were notified of the schedule only minutes before the inspection, leaving them without a copy of the voters’ register.
As a result, INEC postponed the inspection to Thursday, October 10.
On that day, tensions escalated when APC State Chairman Jarrett Tenebe alleged that BVAS machines and voters’ registers were brought into the INEC office using vehicles from the government house. He insisted that the party’s petition should be addressed prior to any inspection of the materials.
PDP representatives strongly disagreed, demanding that the inspection proceed immediately, asserting that the APC’s petition could not override a valid court order.
Due to the ongoing disagreement between the APC and PDP, INEC decided to adjourn the materials inspection indefinitely (sine die).
After the adjournment, APC Counsel Barr. Victor Ohionsumua stated that the APC would return for inspection only after their petition was resolved. He mentioned that the APC had submitted a petition to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, the Commissioner of Police, and the Department of State Services (DSS) on October 10.
“We observed that BVAS machines and voters’ registers entered INEC in government vehicles a few days ago. Therefore, we raised an objection that our petition must be resolved before we can proceed with the inspection,” he explained.
He added that during this process, the INEC office became chaotic, and gunshots were heard outside, leading the INEC Director of Operations to postpone the inspection for security reasons.
Reacting to the situation, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, factional Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo, remarked that the environment at INEC’s head office was not conducive for an inspection. “The atmosphere is chaotic and not suitable for such an important exercise. A level playing field is essential for those contesting the election outcome,” he stated.
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