The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately obstructing the inspection of election materials, including the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS), following the September 21 gubernatorial election.
On October 8, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a circular inviting all political parties to inspect the election materials. INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha, stated, “The inspection of election materials, including BVAS devices, is scheduled for October 9, 2024, at 10:00am at the INEC headquarters in Edo State. All political parties and their representatives are invited to participate in the exercise.”
However, on the scheduled date, PDP representatives reported that over 500 APC members, led by the party’s state chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, had barricaded the INEC office, preventing PDP lawyers and officials from carrying out their legal duties.
Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, Director General of the PDP/Asue-Ogie Campaign Council, condemned the APC’s actions and called for security forces to intervene.
“We have secured a court order for this inspection and should not face resistance from the APC. Their actions today suggest they are unwilling to respect the court’s decision,” he said, adding that PDP officials would return to the INEC office on Thursday to ensure the inspection proceeds as planned.
Iduoriyekemwen also urged the police, DSS, and other security agencies to prevent further disruptions, stating, “If the APC truly believes they won the September 21 governorship election, they should not be afraid to show their victory. Delaying the inspection of BVAS and other materials only raises suspicions of foul play.”
The APC has yet to officially respond to these allegations. Meanwhile, tensions remain high as both parties prepare for further legal challenges regarding the outcome of the election.