Edo: Gunshot, disagreement as INEC postpones inspection of electoral indefinitely

The inspection of materials from the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election was postponed indefinitely on Thursday after sporadic gunfire erupted, allegedly fired by suspected thugs at the Edo State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Benin.

A clash between suspected supporters of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party also occurred near the Ikpoba River, about 700 metres from the INEC office. Several individuals reportedly sustained bullet wounds during the altercation.

The inspection, initially scheduled to begin on Wednesday, was delayed following an objection from the APC.

The party argued that the inspection could not start with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, as the tribunal had granted the PDP. They insisted that it should begin with the voter register.

The APC further contended that they had been served with the inspection schedule only minutes before the exercise was due to start on Wednesday and, as a result, had not brought their copy of the register. Consequently, the exercise was postponed to Thursday.

However, trouble resumed on Thursday when the inspection was about to commence. The APC, through its Edo State Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, raised a petition to the INEC Director of Operations.

The party alleged that BVAS machines and voter registers were brought into the INEC complex on Wednesday in vehicles belonging to the Edo State Government.

The APC insisted that their petition be addressed before the inspection could begin. This was met with resistance from PDP representatives, who insisted the inspection should proceed as planned. They dismissed the APC’s petition as frivolous, baseless, and lacking in truth, asserting that it could not override a valid court order.

Due to the ongoing disagreements between the APC and PDP over how to proceed, INEC adjourned the materials inspection indefinitely.

Speaking to journalists after the adjournment, Victor Ohionsumua, Counsel to the APC, stated that the party would only return for the inspection once their petition had been 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.

“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.