After continuous protests by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will today (Wednesday) allow the Party access electoral materials for the September 21 Edo State governorship poll.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Augbum Onuoha, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday as the PDP had lamented over the delay by the Commission.
Earlier, the PDP National Spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Monday, had alleged that INEC officials were deliberately withholding the electoral materials to allegedly doctor them in order to conceal the alleged rigging of the poll.
But in response to the PDP’s concerns, the REC said the PDP would be given access to the election materials today.
“We have asked them to come tomorrow (Wednesday),” the REC said.
Also, in a statement on Tuesday, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, accused INEC of employing delay tactics in alleged connivance with the All Progressives Congress, APC, to obstruct justice and frustrate the efforts of the PDP to challenge the outcome of the poll in court.
Didactic Information Hut recalls that INEC had declared the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, winner of the poll with 291,667 votes, to defeat PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who recorded 247,274 votes.
But the PDP and Ighodalo in their grievances alleged that the election was manipulated and vowed to challenge the result in court.
To be able to file a petition challenging the poll result, they secured a court order, directing INEC to allow them to inspect the electoral materials.
They, however, expressed frustration that INEC had refused to grant them access.
Speaking on the situation, Nehikhare said, “We are aware that the clandestine and surreptitious game plan is to frustrate the PDP’s appeal and ensure the petition is not filed before the Saturday deadline.”
The commissioner further accused the APC of planning to burn the INEC office so as to destroy the BVAS machines and other electoral materials in an attempt to eliminate evidence of their alleged ‘electoral fraud.’
On Monday, the PDP legal team, led by Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN), had visited the INEC headquarters in Benin City, to access the BIVAS machine, voters register, ballot papers and other election materials but was refused access to the materials despite presenting the court order to INEC officials.
On Tuesday, the women wing of the Edo PDP stormed the streets in a protest demanding the return of the allegedly stolen mandate of Ighodalo.
The women, who were clad in black attire and carried placards of various inscriptions, vowed that they would continue to protest until their demand was realised.
Speaking with Journalists in Benin, spokesperson for the group and former Chairman of the Esan West Local Government Council, Stella Okoro, said they were deeply pained by the outcome of the election.
She added, “We are here today at the NUJ, to express our feelings, and our pains. We are troubled because of our stolen mandate. Our stolen mandate is what we are asking for.
“We are not lions and tigers, we voted. Edo people came out to vote for Asue Ighodalo and that is why we mothers are here today, we are in pains, we are mourning, we are on blacks, telling them to give us back our stolen mandate.
“They used INEC, police and soldiers to rob us. Before the election, they were embarrassing our sons and daughters.
“They arrested our people and they were taken to Abuja, some were in the State CID. We are not happy. We have never seen this kind of election before.
“Upon all the intimidation, upon all the money they spent, Edo people said no. It is Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie they want and they did and they won.
“Give us our mandate or else we will not rest until they give it to us. The Almighty God is hearing the women’s voice.”
Meanwhile, the APC has denied the allegations and insisted that Edo People freely gave the Party, the mandate.