By Folorunsho Alagbede
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), of denying the party access to the election materials used for the conduct of the Edo State governorship polls.
The party said the INEC alleged action was in contravention of a valid court order secured by Dr. Asue Ighodalo, its governorship candidate.
A chieftain of the PDP, Anthony Ehilabo raised the alarm on Monday on his X account.
The order, granted by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, directed INEC to allow PDP lawyers and forensic experts to inspect critical election materials used in the controversial September 21, 2024 governorship election.
The court, presided over by Hon. Justice W.I. Kpochi, had on September 29, 2024, issued the ruling after reviewing the motion filed by PDP’s legal team.
The order granted unfettered access to several key documents in INEC’s possession, including voter registers, ballot papers, and results from the BVAS machines used in the election.
The court specifically mandated the inspection of forms EC25B, EC40A, EC40C, and EC8A, which recorded voting and accreditation results from the 4,519 polling units across Edo State.
But the PDP chieftain said despite the clear legal directive, INEC has reportedly stalled the process.
“INEC allow us inspect the BVAS The Court has ordered. You have been served, @inecnigeria stop being partisan,” Ehilabo wrote.
Meanwhile, the party has also accused police officers of physically preventing its lawyers and forensic experts from even reaching the gates of the INEC office in Benin City.
It was reported that the police, stationed outside the premises, refused to allow the PDP team entry.
The situation escalated just 10 minutes after the PDP team arrived, when some thugs also stormed the INEC premises.
The PDP lawyers were forced to flee the scene.He added, “President Tinubu should be aware that Kwankwaso is leaving the NNPP because many of his party loyalists, including some elected officials from Nasarawa State, are defecting to the APC.
“Even in Kano, Kwankwaso’s stronghold, the NNPP is gradually losing relevance, with many leaving the party, and some top elected National Assembly members are also said to be on their way out.”
“President Tinubu, as a professional and sound politician, surely understands why Kwankwaso is now jittery. He is losing his political relevance, and that is why he is ready to accept any position offered by the APC government,” he added.
