INEC Worried By Obaseki, Basiru’s Presence At Collation Centre

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns over the presence of political figures, including Governor Godwin Obaseki and Senator Ajibola Basiru, at the state collation center.

Osun Defender recalls that Governor Obaseki had entered the INEC office undetected at about 2 am and headed straight to the office of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, where the final results of Saturday’s governorship election in the state were to be collated.

Obaseki, it was gathered, took the step to monitor the collation exercise when information filtered in that attempts were being made to allegedly alter the results in favour of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor, in addition it was learnt, had told his political allies that he would go and see what was going on and also to complain about some anomalies noticed from the results collated in some local government areas, including Oredo, where the governor voted.

Obaseki’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was said to have established three Situation Rooms in the state capital, Benin City, and one each in the three senatorial districts, equipped with hi-tech facilities, to monitor the results governorship election.

READ: VIDEO: Drama As Police, Protesters Boo Obaseki Out Of INEC Office

While officials of INEC were said to have told the governor that he was not supposed to be there just as the PDP candidate in the election, Asue Ighodalo, was sent back earlier but he was said to have insisted on staying, Governor Obaseki also resisted to be persuaded to leave the premises.

At about 3 am, a combined team of policemen led by DIG Mba, who was appointed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to supervise the election, some soldiers and other security agents entered the premises.

The drama of wits between the security personnel and Governor Obaseki continued for over one hour until about 4:10 am when the governor was seen being led out of the premises by the security men who were barking the military command, “Leave, leave” at the governor.

While the drama lasted, Obaseki maintained his cool as he walked, sandwiched among the armed men, out of the Commission’s office.

The mild drama was complemented by the presence of APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, who addressed journalists, saying that the governor had no reason to be in the INEC premises.

Osun Defender authoritatively gathered that Basiru and his party’s members had beseiged the state collation centre to protest Obaseki’s presence, but were not allowed in.

According to information, it took the intervention of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mba, who after receiving a call from the APC National Secretary stormed the collation centre to eject the Governor.

“He is not a candidate. He has no reason to be here”, Basiru emphasised, adding that the governor’s action amounted to an abuse of office.

Earlier, the APC deputy governorship candidate, Dennis Idahosa, had led some protesters to demand the exit of Governor Obaseki from the premises

Reacting to the incidents in an official statement on Sunday issued by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Member of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission expressed alarm over the overnight demonstrations led by certain political actors and their supporters at the INEC State Headquarters.

These actions, according to INEC, pose a threat to the smooth conclusion of the collation process.

INEC also reported an incident at its office in Okpoba Okha Local Government Area, where a stampede occurred, leaving one of its officials injured following a perceived threat.

The Commission condemned these disruptions, stressing that the electoral process must not be undermined.

“Collation will proceed as stipulated by the Electoral Act 2022 and our regulations. There is no room for disruption, and nobody will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness,” Haruna stated. He also warned that INEC has the power to review results declared under duress, should the need arise.

The statement reads in part: “However, the Commission received a deeply disturbing report from our Resident Electoral Commissioner of a threat to our  office in Okpoba Okha Local Government Area yesterday, resulting in a stampede in which one of our officials was injured.

“We are similarly distubed by the overnight presence and  demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at our State Head Office ahead of the commencement of final collation. These actions are uncalled for. Nobody should disrupt the process at any stage and no one will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the collation of result will proceed as provided by the Electoral Act 2022 and our regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections.

“There is a mechanism for redressing complaints during collation, including the power to review results declared under duress. The Commission will not hesitate to invoke such powers where necessary.”