Edo Decides: What really happened at the INEC Office

Edo on Saturday made its decision towards its political future but certainly not in the dead of the night, nor at the INEC Office at an hour the electoral body collated votes.   

In the dead of night, while the collation was going on at the INEC office in Benin, a high-stakes political drama unfolded, threatening to disrupt the collation of results from the governorship election.

The Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki was said to have led a protest at the complex, raising accusations of electoral irregularities and sparking a tense standoff with opposition figures.

Read More:

Edo State Gubernatorial Election 2024: A historical overview

Arriving at 12:47 a.m. alongside PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo and other supporters, Obaseki’s presence triggered a political clash. While the governor held a private meeting with INEC officials inside, his allies, including Ighodalo’s running mate Osarodion Ogie, accused the electoral body of violating guidelines.

The situation escalated as Dennis Idahosa, the APC’s deputy governorship candidate, arrived at 3:27 a.m., furiously demanding that Obaseki leave the premises.

The meeting inside ended without resolution, and Obaseki exited the building without addressing the press. However, APC National Secretary Bashiru Ajibola didn’t mince words, slamming Obaseki’s actions as “thuggery.”

As tensions simmer, the final collation has been postponed to 11 a.m., leaving voters on edge about the outcome.