Kehinde Fajobi
Thousands of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters protested at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin City, Edo State, on Monday.
The demonstrators, led by Deputy Governor-elect Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, of planning to tamper with election materials ahead of the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal hearings.
The protest caused significant traffic disruption as the APC supporters blocked the entrance to INEC’s office, warning the commission not to allow any interference with the election documents.
However, Ighodalo and the PDP had obtained a court order allowing them to inspect all relevant electoral materials.
The order, granted in the case EPT/ED/GOV/01M/2024, directed INEC to provide Ighodalo and his team with a comprehensive list of election materials and certified copies for inspection. The tribunal, chaired by Honourable Justice W. I. Kpochi, mandated INEC to give the PDP unfettered access to voter registers, ballot papers, BVAS machines, and various election forms used in the September 21 governorship election.
The court also ordered INEC to preserve these documents, keeping them secure until the tribunal hears the petition. Additionally, INEC must provide a list of accredited agents from all political parties that participated in the election.
Olusegun Jolaowo (SAN), a member of Ighodalo’s legal team, submitted the court order to INEC and was told to return the next day.
Speaking to journalists, Jolaowo explained that although they had met with INEC’s legal department, they were still awaiting access to the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) machines for their inspection.
“We were told they are preparing a schedule for our inspection,” Jolaowo said.
“We have not been able to inspect because we have not been given access to the BVAS machines. INEC assured us they would contact us once the schedule is ready, but that’s not what we expected today.”
The petitioners have until Saturday to submit their petitions to the tribunal.