The inspection of materials from the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election has been postponed indefinitely following an outbreak of sporadic gunfire at tqhe office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin City.
The gunfire, allegedly fired by suspected thugs, coincided with a violent clash between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) near the Ikpoba River, approximately 700 meters from the INEC office.
Reports indicate that several individuals sustained bullet wounds during the altercation.
The inspection was initially set to commence on Wednesday but was delayed after the APC raised objections regarding the process.
The party argued that the inspection could not begin with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as granted by the tribunal to the PDP, insisting it should start with the voter register.
The APC claimed they were only informed of the inspection schedule minutes before it was due to start on Wednesday, which led to their failure to bring their copy of the voter register.
Following the initial postponement, the inspection was rescheduled for Thursday. However, tensions flared again as the process was about to begin.
The APC, led by its Edo State Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, submitted a petition to the INEC Director of Operations, alleging that BVAS machines and voter registers had been transported into the INEC complex on government vehicles the previous day.
The APC insisted that their petition must be addressed before the inspection could proceed, while PDP representatives argued that the inspection should go ahead as planned.
They dismissed the APC’s petition as frivolous and lacking in merit, asserting that it could not override a valid court order.
Due to the unresolved disputes between the APC and PDP, INEC ultimately decided to adjourn the materials inspection indefinitely.
Speaking to journalists after the adjournment, Victor Ohionsumua, Counsel to the APC, stated that the party would only participate in the inspection once their petition had been adequately addressed.
He said, “This morning (Thursday), the state APC chairman submitted a petition to the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Onuoha Anugbum, the Commissioner of Police, and the Department of State Services in Edo.”
He observed that BVAS machines and voter registers were brought into the INEC complex a few days ago in Edo State Government vehicles.
He said, “On that basis, we raised an objection that the petition must be addressed before the materials inspection can proceed. The INEC legal officer wanted to move forward with the inspection without directives from the REC.
“We insisted on hearing from the REC and that our petition must be addressed before proceeding. During this, the situation became chaotic, and we began hearing gunshots outside the complex.
“The INEC Director of Operations then decided to adjourn the inspection indefinitely, citing security concerns. He has not informed us if we are to return on Friday.”
In response, the factional Chairman of the Labour Party in Edo, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, expressed concern over the atmosphere at the INEC head office, stating that it was not conducive for the inspection to take place.
He said, “The situation here is chaotic, and it is not the right environment for an exercise of this nature to occur. In my view, INEC and the political parties must come together to ensure that the inspection is conducted in a proper manner.
“A level playing field must be provided for those contesting the election outcome so that the process is fair and acceptable to the people of Edo State. Today, there is a complete disagreement between the APC and PDP, and it seems unlikely that any inspection can take place.”
Attempts to get comments from PDP officials regarding the incident were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.