The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed worry by the overnight presence and demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at its State Head Office ahead of the commencement of final collation.
INEC National Commissioner and Member, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna in a statement issued Sunday said these actions are uncalled for.
The commission warned that nobody should disrupt the process at any stage and no one would be allowed to benefit from lawlessness
It added that accredited party agents, observers and the media should be granted unimpeded access to all collation centres during the collation of Edo state governorship election results.
He said: “Following the conclusion of voting yesterday, the Commission activated the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and uploaded the Polling Unit results in earnest. The same results have also been collated from all the 192 Wards.
“Similarly, collation has been concluded in most of the Local Government Areas and the designated officials are already at the collation centre in Benin City or on their way. We are set to commence State-level collation.
“However, the Commission received a deeply disturbing report from our Resident Electoral Commissioner of a threat to our office in Okpoba Okha Local Government Area yesterday, resulting in a stampede in which one of our officials was injured.
“We are similarly disturbed by the overnight presence and demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at our State Head Office ahead of the commencement of final collation.
“These actions are uncalled for. Nobody should disrupt the process at any stage and no one will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness.”
The commission noted that for the avoidance of doubt, the collation of results would proceed as provided by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections.
It further explained that there is a mechanism for redressing complaints during collation, including the power to review results declared under duress.
Haruna stressed that the Commission would not hesitate to invoke such powers where necessary.
“Accredited party agents, observers and the media should be granted unimpeded access to all collation centres,” it said
The Commission called on the security agencies to continue to maintain the same vigilance and professionalism that led to the peaceful conduct of the election as we conclude the process.