By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A serious political clash that could have disrupted the ongoing electoral process in Edo State gubernatorial election held on Saturday occurred at the INEC office in Benin, the state capital in the wee hours of Sunday.
Trouble began unfolding at the headquarters where final collation activities were to commence for the Saturday governorship election.
The midnight crisis began when Governor Godwin Obaseki led a protest to the INEC office in Benin, alleging irregularities in the ongoing collation of results.
The governor arrived at the INEC office around 12:47 am, with the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, and other supporters of the party.
Gov. Obaseki proceeded to have a meeting with some officials inside the main building, while Mr. Ighodalo and others stayed outside.
Speaking with journalists outside the INEC office, the running mate of Mr. Ighodalo, Mr Osarodion Ogie accused the electoral umpire of not complying with the guidelines.
After about two hours, Frank Mbah, a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), arrived at the complex and went straight into the main building.
Around 3:27 am, the deputy governorship candidate of the APC, Dennis Idahosa, arrived with the National Secretary of the APC, Bashiru Ajibola, and other supporters.
“Obaseki, come outside !. You have no business inside the INEC office,” Mr. Idahosa shouted at the gate until they were allowed into the building by the police.
After an hour, the meeting inside the main building ended, with Mr. Obaseki exiting first without speaking to journalists.
Speaking with journalists, Mr. Bashiru described the governor’s actions as thuggery, stating that the governor had no business visiting the INEC office while collation was ongoing.
The final collation has been shifted to 11 a.m. Sunday.
