Irregularities Mar Polls In Edo South

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The much anticipated and awaited Edo state governorship election began on Saturday in Edo south senatorial district with hitches and irregularities in some of the poling centres.

An estimated 59 per cent of the registered voters in the election are located in this senatorial zone.

Eligible voters defied the presence of heavily armed security men and turned out in large numbers as early as 7 a.m.

They gathered at polling centres and waited for the arrival of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cast their votes.

The late arrival of the INEC officials however resulted in delay of accreditation of eligible voters, just as there was shortage of election materials in some of the polling units.

When P.M.NEWS arrived at Agbado Primary school, venue of ward 12, units 21-30 at about 8.00 am, INEC officials were seen sorting out their materials while voters waited patiently for the commencement of accreditation.

The story was however different at other centres. As at 9.00 am, INEC officials and voting materials were yet to arrive Garric Memorial Primary School, where ward 1 Units 18-21 are located, where the PDP governorship candidate, General Charles Airhiavbere was to cast his vote.

The PDP candidate who arrived at the venue at about 9.35 am described the large turnout of voters at the centre as a sign of good things to come, adding that the late arrival of INEC staff and voting materials was not a sign of failure on the part of the electoral body.

When accreditation of voters at the centre commenced at about 10 a.m, it was discovered that many voters’ photographs were missing in the voters’ register.

This delayed accreditation for more than one hour and those affected were told to go home.

Not even the arrival of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Marvel Akpoyibo, Assistant Inspector General of Police Hassimu Argungu and the Commanding Officer of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Abel Umahi, could calm the nerves of the aggrieved voters.

All entreaties by the security chiefs to the aggrieved electorate fell on deaf ears as they continued to chant ‘Jega we must vote’.

Peter Obakpolor, one of the aggrieved voters alleged that it was a plot by INEC to rig the election in favour of the PDP.

“When we voted for the President in 2011, there was no problem, our photographs were there. Why now that we are about to vote for governor, our photographs suddenly disappeared? They are now telling us to go home because we would not be allowed to vote as our photographs are not in their registers. They know what they are doing. It is a plot to rig it for their candidate, but it would not work,” he said.

At a point, it was resolved by agents of six of the seven participating political parties that those with valid voter’s card whose name appear on the register should be allowed to vote even without their photographs, but the PDP agent opposed it.

The arrival of the Resident Commissioner of Edo INEC finally resolved the issue as he ordered that all those with cards be allowed to vote, whether their photographs were there or not.

Accreditation at several centres in Ikpoba-Okha and Uhunmwode local government areas visited by P.M.NEWS started as early as 8 a.m, with voting starting at about 1 pm, following late completion of accreditation as a result of the large turn out of voters.

A PDP stalwart whose identity could not be ascertained was allegedly caught stuffing ballot papers into a ballot box. He however escaped arrest by security officials.

As at the time of filing this report, unconfirmed report has it that results of the governorship election are trickling into the Edo INEC office with the ACN taking the lead.

Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against declaring results that do not reflect the wish and expectation of the electorate.

Oshiomhole who talked to journalists at his country home at Iyamoh, Etsako West local government area, said Oredo local government area which is one of the most populated in the state was deliberately scheme out of the election through late distributing electoral materials as well as omitting voters’ names from the register.

The governor who threatened to mobilse the people against INEC if false result is declared, noted that the commission has not lived up to its expection by this development.

“In fact any attempt to declare illegal result will be the beginning of the end. For people like us even out of government I made up my mind, life is not worth it if you can’t have basic right. So as a governor you cannot be anything less. So I am going to Benin to mobilise people to be ready.

“It is a shame that Jega has not made any difference in Edo election. As far as Edo election is concerned, it is a fraud. I have told INEC people that if they want Nigeria to start it from here it will start from here.

“If they need peace, they will have peace and if they are opposed to peace, we will assist them. But everybody will be counting their losses including Jega, including everybody in the system,” Oshiomhole said.

He added that had electoral materials been supplied early enough for the election, there would be no room for manipulation and the people would have enough time for accreditation as well as voting.