The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has granted access to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, and his legal team to inspect the election materials and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices used during the last Edo State governorship election.
This move comes after persistent allegations by the PDP camp that INEC had previously denied Ighodalo access to the BVAS machines despite a court order instructing the commission to allow the inspection.
The September 21st election, which saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) declared victorious, has been the subject of intense scrutiny and accusations of manipulation by the opposition PDP.
The PDP, led by Ighodalo, had earlier voiced concerns that their legal efforts to challenge the election results were being hindered by INEC’s refusal to grant access to crucial election materials.
The situation reached a boiling point when protests erupted, with PDP supporters taking to the streets, demanding transparency in the electoral process.
In response to the mounting pressure, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Anugbom Onuoha, issued a letter dated October 8, 2024, refuting the allegations.
In the letter, Onuoha emphasized the commission’s commitment to “transparency and integrity in the electoral process” and announced that the inspection would take place on October 9, 2024, at 10:00 AM at INEC’s headquarters in Edo State.
PDP’s State Chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemin, expressed his satisfaction with the decision, describing it as “a win for democracy and the rule of law.”
He extended his gratitude to the people of Edo State for their unwavering support throughout the legal struggle.
“I want to thank all those who came out to protest in support of Ighodalo’s quest to reclaim his stolen mandate.
“While I have lost faith in the Police and INEC, who I believe colluded with the APC to steal the election, I have absolute confidence in the judiciary. They will do right by the people of Edo State and uphold their decision to elect Asue as their governor,” Aziegbemin said.