By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Independent National Electoral Commission has reacted to report that accredited observers and journalists, including its officials are being tear gassed at the local government collation centre in Ikpoba/Okha.
Yiaga Africa in a statement, alerts of plot to rig the Edo governorship election, saying reports from its LGA centre observers “indicate disruptions in the collation process for Oredo and Ikpoba/Okha.”
It added: “Observers and INEC officials are being teargassed in Ikpoba/Okha. We want to emphasize that collating LGA results at the state headquarters violates the established procedure for results collation.”
In a statement signed by INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, said accredited party agents, observers and the media should be granted unimpeded access to all collation centres.
Haruna did not however mention who he was making the appeal to.
The statement reads: “Following the conclusion of voting yesterday, the Commission activated the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and uploaded the Polling Unit results in earnest. The same results have also been collated from all the 192 Wards. Similarly, collation has been concluded in most of the Local Government Areas and the designated officials are already at the collation centre in Benin City or on their way.
“We are set to commence State-level collation. 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 disturbed by the overnight presence and demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at our State Head Office ahead of the commencement of final coalition. 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 results 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.
“Accredited party agents, observers and the media should be granted unimpeded access to all collation centres. The Commission calls on the security agencies to continue to maintain the same vigilance and professionalism that led to the peaceful conduct of the election as we conclude the process.”