The Distant Nationwide Electoral Fee has mentioned it is going to these days (Wednesday)build to be had to the Peoples Democratic Birthday celebration electoral fabrics for the September 21 Edo Condition governorship ballot.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo Condition, Dr. Augbum Onuoha, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday amid proceedings of extend by way of the PDP.
In a remark on Monday, the PDP Nationwide Exposure Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, had alleged that INEC officers had been intentionally withholding the electoral fabrics to allegedly physician them to deliver to hide the alleged rigging of the ballot.
According to the PDP’s issues, the REC instructed our correspondent on Tuesday that the PDP can be given get right of entry to to the election fabrics these days.
“We have asked them to come tomorrow (Wednesday),” the REC mentioned.
In a remark on Tuesday, Edo Condition Commissioner for Conversation and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, accused INEC of using extend ways in alleged connivance with the All Progressives Congress to impede justice and frustrate the efforts of the PDP to problem the result of the ballot in courtroom.
INEC had declared the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, winner of the ballot with 291,667 votes, to edge out PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who recorded 247,274 votes.
However the PDP and Ighodalo alleged manipulation of the ballot, vowing to problem the lead to courtroom.
So to record a petition difficult the ballot outcome, they fix a courtroom sequence, directing INEC so they can investigate cross-check the electoral fabrics.
They, on the other hand, expressed frustration that INEC had refused to lend them get right of entry to.
Talking at the condition, Nehikhare mentioned, “We are aware that the clandestine and surreptitious game plan is to frustrate the PDP’s appeal and ensure the petition is not filed before the Saturday deadline.”
The commissioner additionally accused the APC of making plans to burn the INEC place of work to be able to smash the BVAS machines and alternative electoral fabrics in an try to get rid of proof in their alleged ‘electoral fraud.’
On Monday, the PDP criminal group, led by way of Olusegun Jolaawo (SAN), had visited the INEC headquarters in Benin Town, to get right of entry to the BIVAS device, electorate check in, poll papers and alternative election fabrics however used to be refused get right of entry to to the fabrics in spite of presenting the courtroom sequence to INEC officers.
On Tuesday, the ladies wing of the Edo PDP staged a protest not easy the go back of the allegedly stolen mandate of Ighodalo.
The ladies, who had been clad in unlit apparel and carried placards of diverse inscriptions, vowed that they might proceed to protest till their call for used to be realised.
Addressing Reporters in Benin, spokesperson for the gang and previous Chairman of the Esan West Native Govt Council, Stella Okoro, mentioned they had been deeply pained by way of the result of the election.
She added, “We’re right here these days on the NUJ, to precise our emotions, and our pains. We’re stricken on account of our stolen mandate. Our stolen mandate is what we’re inquiring for.
“We don’t seem to be lions and tigers, we voted. Edo public got here out to vote for Asue Ighodalo and this is why we moms are right here these days, we’re in pains, we’re mourning, we’re on blacks, telling them to provide us again our stolen mandate.
“They impaired INEC, police and infantrymen to rob us. Sooner than the election, they had been embarrassing our little kids.
“They arrested our public and so they had been taken to Abuja, some had been within the Condition CID. We don’t seem to be glad. We’ve got by no means distinguishable this type of election sooner than.
“Upon the entire intimidation, upon the entire cash they spent, Edo public mentioned deny. It’s Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie they would like and so they did and so they gained.
“Give us our mandate or else we will not rest until they give it to us. The Almighty God is hearing the women’s voice.”
However in keeping with the agitation by way of the PDP, the Director of Exposure, Edo APC Governorship Marketing campaign Council, denied APC’s involvement within the subject.
He mentioned, “The All Progressives Congress learn the diatribe and assault on our birthday celebration by way of the defeated Peoples Democratic Birthday celebration in our expensive situation, with utter dismay on the falsehood, they have got designed to mischievously misrepresent the real condition on the Benin Workplace of the Distant Nationwide Electoral Fee.
“For the avoidance of hesitation, the presence of the APC juveniles on the INEC place of work is to ensure our hard earned victory, particularly as we have now depended on data that the PDP Chairman in Edo Condition, Tony Aziegbemi, has deliberate to profit from his acquittance with a feminine INEC ICT section personnel, from one of the most neighbouring states, to falsify some already declared effects.
“We name on Nigerians to forget the baseless remark credited to Asue Media Organisation, thru one Erhabor Emokpae, accusing the police and alternative legislation enforcement businesses of making plans to control the electoral procedure to favour our birthday celebration.
“This remark is an viewable demonstration of beggarly working out of what electoral procedure is. Ighodalo and PDP will have to be reminded that the 2024 Edo Condition governorship election has been carried out and gained by way of outstanding Senator Monday Okpebholo over over two weeks in the past.
“We can, however, forgiveness their hesitation, which will have to be a results of concussion they suffered from the knockdown on September 21, 2024, and to easily tell them that the problem they now face is a criminal procedure, which has now grow to be their albatross.
“The All Progressives Congress has no blame in the PDP judicial mishap.”