There was tension on Thursday at the Benin Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when suspected political thugs stormed the venue for the inspection materials used for the 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
It was gathered that there was sporadic gunshots at the INEC office following a clash between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which forced the commission’s officials to postpone the exercise indefinitely.
INEC had slated the inspection of election materials for Wednesday but could not commence as planned following an objection raised by APC against the inspection, scheduled to commence the process with BIVAS Machines.
Following APC’s objection, INEC fixed the exercise for Thursday October 10, 2024, for the inspection which was however stalled by the sporadic shooting from supporters of APC and PDP around Ikpoba River near the commission’s headquarters.
It was gathered that several persons were alleged to have sustained gunshot injuries during the fracas between the supporters.
However, trouble started on Thursday when the exercise was about to commence as the All Progressives Congress through its Edo State Chairman, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, drew attention of the INEC Director of operations to a petition, alleging that BIVAS machines and Voters Registers were on Wednesday brought into the INEC complex with vehicles from the state government house.
The party contended amongst others that its petition should be addressed before commencing inspection of materials, an argument which was sternly rejected by representatives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who insisted on the commencement of materials inspection.
It contended that the petition being frivolous, baseless and lacking the truth cannot supercede a valid court order and called for the commencement of the inspection.
Owing to the inability of the political parties particularly the APC and its counterpart PDP to agree on the way forward, the electoral commission then adjourned the materials inspection sine die.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the adjournment, Counsel to the APC, Barr. Victor Ohionsumua, said that the APC will only return for the inspection of the materials only when their petition is addressed.
He said: “The state APC Chairman this morning, (Thursday) submitted a petition to the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Onuoha Anugbum, the Commissioner of Police and Department of State Services (DSS) in Edo that he noticed and saw BIVAS machines and Voters’ Register entering INEC complex a few days ago with Edo State Government vehicles.
“And on the basis of that, we raised the objection that the petition has to be determined first before we can go ahead of the materials inspection. The INEC legal officer wanted to go ahead with inspection without any directives from the state Dr. Anugbum.
“We insisted that we must hear from the REC and our petition must be determined before we move forward. In the process, the place (INEC office) became rowdy and we started hearing gunshots outside the complex.
“The INEC Director of Operations then said that because of security reasons as our lives are in danger, decided to adjourn the inspection sine die and he has not told us to come back tomorrow (Friday).
Also reacting to the development, the factional Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, maintained that the atmosphere at the state INEC head office was not conducive for the inspection to commence.
He said “The experience here is a total melee and not a conducive atmosphere for which an exercise of that kind can take place. It is in my view therefore, that the agency and the political parties concerned must come together look at what they can do to ensure that the exercise is conducted
“For me, a level playing field should be given to those who are contesting the outcome of the election. In order that we can get to a platform that is acceptable to the generality of the people of Edo State.
“For today, there is a total disagreement between the APC and the PDP and I am not sure any exercise can happen here today”, he said
