Concerns Over Transparency and Integrity
A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has rejected the outcome of the Edo State governorship election held on September 21, citing concerns over the transparency and integrity of the process.
The election, which declared the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the winner, has come under fire from groups that observed the polls.
The coalition, including organizations like the Advocacy for Quality Leadership and Health Awareness Foundation, and the Grassroot Development and Peace Initiative, issued a statement condemning the collation process at ward and local government levels. They highlighted serious discrepancies between the results at the polling units and those tallied during collation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Violation of Electoral Act 2022
In a statement co-signed by Mrs. Rose Akhigbe, Comrade Peter Nwokolo, Engr. Anyasor Gabriel, and Comrade Sunny Elekwa, the CSOs accused INEC of violating the Electoral Act 2022. “INEC adhered to the law at the polling units but completely disregarded it during the collation process,” said Nwokolo, one of the key coordinators of the coalition.
The groups raised concerns over the presence of two sets of result sheets, one used during voting and another allegedly tampered with to favor the APC in specific areas. They also decried the involvement of military and police forces, alleging that these security agents disrupted the collation process and intimidated electoral officers.
“There was clear militarization and abuse of power at key collation centers, raising questions about the fairness of the entire electoral process,” the statement noted.
The coalition rejected the official election results, emphasizing that while the process at over 4,500 polling units seemed satisfactory, the subsequent interference from security personnel and the manipulation of results compromised the election’s credibility.
The CSOs are demanding a full review of the election, urging INEC to address the alleged irregularities to restore public confidence in the electoral system. “We must ensure the electoral process remains transparent, fair, and free from external interference,” said Mrs. Akhigbe.
Representing a wide range of organizations, including the Citizens Rights and Leadership Awareness Initiative and the Centre for Social Values and Early Childhood Development, the coalition vowed to continue advocating for electoral reforms. They also called on local and international observers to closely monitor the situation and push for measures to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
