FIJ Investigation Alleges Widespread Rigging in Edo Governorship Election by APC
The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) has released a report detailing how the Edo State governorship election of September 21, 2024, was allegedly manipulated to secure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo.
According to the investigation, the election was fraught with irregularities, including voter suppression, violence, and the falsification of results, allegedly orchestrated by APC leaders in collaboration with officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.
Source: Facebook
At the heart of the investigation are allegations of gross irregularities in Etsako West Local Government Area, stronghold of former Edo State Governor and APC leader Sen. Adams Oshiomole, where the APC was declared to have won 32,107 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s 17,483 votes.
FIJ reports that the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the collation results from the area, obtained by the PDP, was labeled as a “Replacement Copy” and lacked the official INEC stamp seen on CTCs from other LGAs.
Adding to the controversy, the collation process at the Auchi Council Hall was disrupted by gunfire during the early hours of September 22.
In the chaos, Benji Ojietu, the deputy chairman of the local government, was shot and later alleged that the police were responsible for the attack, which led to the loss of key electoral documents.
The FIJ report further implicates key APC leaders in the alleged malpractices. Dennis Idahosa, now the deputy governor of Edo State and a former representative of Ovia Federal Constituency, is accused of coordinating voter suppression in PDP strongholds and influencing INEC officials to manipulate results during collation.
Another APC figure, Nosa Adams from Egor Local Government, is also alleged to have played a significant role in altering election results to favor his party. Both men are said to have leveraged their political influence to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
The investigation also raises serious concerns about INEC’s conduct. Despite the mandated use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for electronic transmission of results, many polling units reportedly failed to comply. Instead, results were collated manually, creating opportunities for manipulation. Furthermore, INEC has been accused of withholding access to critical election materials, despite court orders mandating their release, thus frustrating the PDP’s efforts to challenge the results in court.
Etsako West was not the only area flagged for alleged irregularities. In Ikpoba Okha’s Oregbeni ward, results were inexplicably canceled despite 10,928 voters being accredited. Across the state, reports of over-voting, where the total votes cast exceeded the number of accredited voters, further call into question the validity of the declared results. In some cases, FIJ notes that violence was deployed strategically in PDP strongholds, with armed thugs intimidating voters, disrupting polling units, and snatching ballot boxes—all reportedly with the tacit approval of security personnel.
Asue Ighodalo, the PDP’s governorship candidate, had described the Edo election as “…the worst elections in the history of this country.” because he alleged it was the first time the umpire and the Police were actively colluding with a political party to rig an election. The PDP has since filed a legal petition contesting the results, citing non-compliance with the Electoral Act and widespread irregularities. FIJ’s report appears to bolster these claims, providing evidence of systemic failings that undermined the credibility of the election.
The FIJ report has reignited concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly the impartiality of INEC and the complicity of security agencies. Observers warn that failure to address these issues could erode public trust in the country’s democratic institutions and set a troubling precedent for future elections.
The FIJ report has reignited concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly the impartiality of INEC and the complicity of security agencies. Observers warn that failure to address these issues could erode public trust in the country’s democratic institutions and set a troubling precedent for future elections.
As the legal battle over the Edo State election unfolds, the findings from FIJ’s investigation add another layer of scrutiny to what may become a litmus test for Nigeria’s commitment to free, fair, and credible elections.
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Source: Legit.ng
