Voting ended at 3:00 pm in several polling units while sorting and counting began immediately. The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier granted an extension in places that experienced late arrival of materials. According to the INEC “to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised, the Commission wishes to reiterate that, in line with our Regulations
Voting ended at 3:00 pm in several polling units while sorting and counting began immediately. The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier granted an extension in places that experienced late arrival of materials.
According to the INEC “to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised, the Commission wishes to reiterate that, in line with our Regulations and Guidelines, voting will be extended wherever it commenced late and will continue until the last voter on the queue who arrived at the Polling Unit by 2.30 pm has voted”.
In readiness for the next stage of collation of election results, the INEC in a statement said “We have drawn the attention of our office in Edo State to ensure that, where necessary, there is adequate power supply from our back-up electric generators in the affected Polling Units or Ward Collation Centres”. The statement was signed by Mohammed Haruna National Commissioner & Member, Information and Voter Education Committee.
PDP Alleges Bias Agaibst Police, Wants AIG Benneth Igwe Withdrawn
As soon as the voting process commenced, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged bias against the Nigeria Police Force and demanded that the Inspector General of Police” to immediately withdraw AIG Zone 7, Benneth Igwe from election duties in Edo State to avoid crisis during the exercise.
PDP’s demand was necessitated by an allegation in a section of the media and across Edo State that the AIG has been reportedly positioned by the APC to provide cover for APC thugs to attack collation centers and compromise election results in favour of the APC.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said “Reports have it that the AIG allegedly held a meeting with some police personnel to effect the said plot after some patriotic military operatives dislodged and arrested APC armed thugs who invaded INEC office in Oredo Local Government Area last night intending to compromise the electoral materials for the Area.
“Our Party therefore calls on the IGP to immediately recall the AIG to Abuja as his continued presence in Edo State is already causing apprehension in the State. The AIG must speak out and clear the air on this very weighty allegation against him in the public domain”.
A Few Violations of Electoral Rules, Vote Buying
There were incidences of a few infractions here and there during the voting exercise. It was alleged that the Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, wanted to vote at unit 6 Ikabigbo without a voter’s card but was prevented from doing so by electorates at the unit.
EFCC Nabs Vote Buyer in Edo Election
The Labour Party Deputy Gubernatorial candidate alleged that members of the APC were engaging in massive vote buying at the rate of N10,000.00 per vote which he witnessed at some of the polling areas where he voted. He also alleged that he received reports from other parts of the State on vote buying.
The EFCC had a busy day going around the State trying to prevent vote buying. The anti-graft agency arrested some Vote Buyers at Ward 7, Egor LGA, Edo South. There were viral videos of other vote buyers being apprehended or being chased away from polling unit areas.
Meanwhile, the former governor of Edo State and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Comrade Adams Oshiomole has denied the allegation that the All Progressives Congress (APC) stock-pilled money to buy votes in the ongoing election in the state.
Addressing journalists after casting his vote at Iyamho, Ward 10 Unit 01 in Estako West local government area of Edo State, Oshiomhole commended voters in the senatorial district for coming out en mass to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice.
As of the time of this report, results have been announced in several polling units and wards. The exercise will later tonight proceed to the Local Government Areas for collation.
