25 election observer groups reject Edo governorship election result over falsifications & shortcomings in collations

Not less than 25 observer groups on Wednesday described last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State as falling short of expectations as they claimed that collation of results at some levels did not comply with the Electoral Act of 2022.

They said they were satisfied with the more than 4,500 polling units’ results and some wards but rejected the collation of wards and local governments’ results in the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin City which they said is contrary to the law.

A statement signed by Mrs. Rose Akhigbe, Comrade Peter Nwokolo, Engr. Anyasor Gabriel and Comrade Sunny Elekwa on behalf of others said, “We reject the result declared because there are two sets of result sheets. One was taken to the field and another one to APC in Edo North, some parts of Edo South and Edo Central.

“We observed that the military and police disrupted the collation of results at the wards and local government collation centres, including intimidation of INEC officials that collated results contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines. There is significant concern about the credibility of the results collation process.

“We reject the result of the election which declared the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. There was militarization and use of impunity at wards, local governments and state collation centres. INEC, Military and police have violated the provision of the Electoral Act 2022 concerning the collation of results in the governorship election. Results were only collated at units and some wards.”