No fewer than 25 observer groups on Wednesday criticized last Saturday’s Edo State governorship election, stating that it fell short of expectations.
They claimed that the collation of results at certain levels failed to comply with the 2022 Electoral Act.
While the groups expressed satisfaction with the results from over 4,500 polling units and some wards, they rejected the collation of ward and local government results conducted at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin City, stating that it contravened legal procedures.
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A statement signed by Mrs. Rose Akhigbe, Comrade Peter Nwokolo, Engr. Anyasor Gabriel and Comrade Sunny Elekwa on behalf of others said “We reject the result declared because there are two sets of result sheets. One was taken to the field and another one to APC in Edo North, some parts of Edo South and Edo Central.
“We observed that the military and police disrupted the collation of results at the wards and local governments collation centres, including intimidation of INEC officials that collated results contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines. There is significant concern about the credibility of the results collation process.
“We reject the result of the election which declared the All Progressive Congress APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. There was militarization and use of impunity at wards, local governments and state collation centres. INEC, Military and police have violated the provision of the Electoral Act 2022 concerning the collation of results in the governorship election. Results were only collated at units and some wards.”
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