The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of denying its party agents access to the collation centre while those of of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were allowed.
The PDP also demanded the restoration of the collation process in accordance with the Electoral Act.
Addressing journalists in Benin on Sunday at the party’s situation room, the Governor of Adamawa State and PDP chairman governorship campaign council, Ahmadu Fintiri, alleged that the collation process was truncated in several local government areas by INEC, with a view to favouring the APC.
“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 in Benin on the instructions of an Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) in complete breach of the statutory collation process.
“Affected party agents and representatives were then ordered to converge on the INEC state headquarters in Aduwawa, Ikpoba Okha local government areas for the completion of the collation exercise. Upon arrival, agents of the PDP were not allowed into the INEC state office for the exercise, but the agents of the APC were allowed unfettered access.”
According to him, the development was also in breach of the Electoral Act section on neutrality as well as the rules and regulations published for these elections.
He alleged that the results from Wards 7 and 11 in Etsako West LGA were not delivered following shooting at the LG collation centre.
He also alleged that the state office of INEC was cordoned off by the police, adding that Governor Godwin Obaseki protested before he was allowed into the centre to register the displeasure of the PDP.
Governor Fintiri claimed that the authentic results announced before the collation exercise were truncated.
“We hereby demand a restoration of the collation process in accordance with the Electoral Act and the INEC rules and regulation for this election.
“Any other illegal and unlawful actions going forward will be a violation of the will of the people and an abuse of the Electoral Act 2022.”
Daily Trust reports that other governors at the situation room are Delta State Governor, Sherrif Oborevwori, and Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefa and Obaseki.
Although INEC has yet to react directly to the allegation, the commission shortly before the commencement of collation of results at its headquarters in Benin on Sunday, said it would not fail Edo people.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Anugbum Omuoha, said the election had been conducted and concluded, adding that results would reflect the will of the people as he called for patience and understanding.
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