Edo Election: INEC Begins Collation, To Review Results Declared Under Duress

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it is poised to commence the state-level collation of results from Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State.

This comes in light of reports detailing threats directed at its office in the Okpoba Okha Local Government Area.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, INEC National Commissioner and member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, revealed the commission’s stance.

He emphasized that any results declared under duress would be subject to review, reflecting INEC’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.

Haruna noted that journalists, accredited observers, and party agents would be granted unhindered access to the collation centres to promote transparency.

However, he expressed concern over the overnight presence of certain political actors at the commission’s state office, which he described as unsettling.

Mohammed said, “Following the conclusion of voting yesterday, the Commission activated the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and uploaded the Polling Unit results in earnest. The same results have also been collated from all the 192 Wards. Similarly, collation has been concluded in most of the Local Government Areas and the designated officials are already at the collation centre in Benin City or on their way. We are set to commence State-level collation.

“However, the Commission received a deeply disturbing report from our Resident Electoral Commissioner of a threat to our office in Okpoba Okha Local Government Area yesterday, resulting in a stampede in which one of our officials was injured. We are similarly distubed by the overnight presence and demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at our State Head Office ahead of the commencement of final collation. These actions are uncalled for. Nobody should disrupt the process at any stage and no one will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the collation of result will proceed as provided by the Electoral Act 2022 and our regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections. There is a mechanism for redressing complaints during collation, including the power to review results declared under duress. The Commission will not hesitate to invoke such powers where necessary.

“Accredited party agents, observers and the media should be granted unimpeded access to all collation centres.

“The Commission calls on the security agencies to continue to maintain the same vigilance and professionalism that led to the peaceful conduct of the election as we conclude the process.”