Edo Guber Tussle: INEC Suspends Materials Inspection by APC, PDP Indefinitely Over Security Threat as Rival Party Thugs Engage in Gun Duel

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Inspection of materials used for the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State has been suspended indefinitely following outbreak of violence whereby rival political thugs apparently loyal to the All-Progressives Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) exchanged gunfire, thereby creating a tensed atmosphere at the Benin City head office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Several persons reportedly sustained injuries in the melee that erupted at the Ikpoba River axis, about 700 metres from the INEC office where the inspection of materials was to take place.

Recall that the inspection exercise which ought to commence on Wednesday could not take place as planned following an objection raised by the APC to the effect that the exercise ought to begin with the inspection of the voters register and not the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) machines in line with the court order obtained by the PDP. The APC requested for an adjournment to Thursday claiming that because they were served with the schedule just a few minutes to the inspection, they did not come with their copy of the register.

However, confusion set in on Thursday when the exercise was about to commence as the APC, represented by its chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, drew attention of the INEC Director of Operations to a petition, alleging that BVAS machines and voters registers were on Wednesday brought into the INEC complex with vehicles from the state government house.

The party contended amongst others, that its petition should be addressed before commencing inspection of materials, an argument which was vehemently opposed by representatives of the PDP who insisted on the commencement of the exercise.

Describing the petition as frivolous, baseless and lacking the truth and cannot supersede a valid court order, the PDP called for the commencement of the inspection.

And because the two political parties could not agree on the way forward, INEC decided to put off the inspection sine die.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the adjournment, counsel to the APC, Victor Ohionsumua said that the APC would only return for the inspection of the materials only when their petition had been addressed.

He said: “The state APC Chairman this morning, (Thursday) submitted a petition to the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Onuoha Anugbum, the Commissioner of Police and Department of State Services (DSS) in Edo that he noticed and saw BVAS machines and voters’ register entering INEC complex a few days ago with Edo State Government vehicles.

“And on the basis of that, we raised the objection that the petition has to be determined first before we can go ahead with the materials inspection. The INEC legal officer wanted to go ahead with the inspection without any directives from the state REC, Dr. Anugbum.

“We insisted that we must hear from the REC and our petition must be determined before we move forward. In the process, the place (INEC office) became rowdy, and we started hearing gunshots outside the complex.

“The INEC Director of Operations then said that because of security reasons as our lives are in danger, decided to adjourn the inspection sine die and he has not told us to come back tomorrow (Friday).

Also reacting to the development, the factional Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, maintained that the atmosphere at the state INEC head office was not conducive for the inspection to commence.

He said “The experience here is a total melee and not a conducive atmosphere for which an exercise of that kind can take place. It is in my view therefore, that the agency and the political parties concerned must come together, look at what they can do to ensure that the exercise is conducted

“For me, a level playing field should be given to those who are contesting the outcome of the election in order that we can get to a platform that is acceptable to the generality of the people of Edo State.

“For today, there is a total disagreement between the APC and the PDP, and I am not sure any exercise can happen here today”, Ogbaloi said