The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council in Edo has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prevent its legal team from inspecting election materials used in the state governorship election.
The election was held on September 21.
Asue Ighodalo, governorship candidate of the PDP, is challenging the victory of Monday Okpebholo, Edo governor-elect.
Okpebholo, a serving senator, won the election with 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo who polled 247,274 votes.
In a post on X on Monday, Oseh Anenih, the campaign’s director of strategy, said his party was prevented from inspecting the materials when it visited INEC’s office.
“This morning they refused to comply with a court order mandating them to allow the PDP inspect BVAS machines used to steal the Election,” he posted.
“The Nigerian Police prevented the PDP legal team from accessing the Commission; then thugs magically appeared.”
“INEC is colluding with the APC.This morning they refused to comply with a court order mandating them to allow the PDP inspect BVAS machines used to steal the Election
In an order dated September 29, the Edo governorship election tribunal, said the PDP should have “unfettered access” to all electoral materials in its custody.
“That the 1st Respondent (INEC) is directed to grant the Applicants or their Solicitors and Forensic documents Examiners unfettered access to and open up for inspection all electoral documents or any document in the custody of the National Chief Elcctoral Commissioner or any officer of the Commission/ 1st Respondent particularly the Voter Registers, the ballot papers, the BVAS machines, Forms EC25B, EC 25B(i), Forms EC40A and Forms EC40C which were utilised for the conduct of the Edo state governorship election held on the 21st September, 2024,” W.I. Kpochi, the tribunal judge, held.
