PDP demands prosecution of INEC P.O Obozuwa Josephine for vote allocation

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of an INEC Presiding Officer (PO) in the Edo State Governorship election, Obozuwa Josephine, for allegedly brazenly allocating non-existent votes to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the PDP, the election result sheet for Osholo Primary School Polling Unit, Weppa in Etsako East Local Government Area shows that whereas 213 voters were accredited, Obozuwa Josephine “criminally and fraudulently” allocated 352 votes to the APC, 52 to the PDP and one to the LP, giving a total of 406 as votes cast.

Party spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba in a statement Saturday said it is highly provocative that the INEC PO Obozuwa Josephine could be so compromised to audaciously and feloniously allocate unearned 352 votes to the APC above the 213 voters officially accredited in that Polling Unit.

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“This reckless act by Obozuwa Josephine is reminiscent of the criminal conduct of the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari, during the 2023 Governorship election in that State, which provoked violent protest by the people and nearly led to the loss of lives of INEC officials.

“Obozuwa Josephine should take note that this criminal action by her could provoke similar consequences.

“Our Party holds that Obozuwa Josephine’s action is one of the many cases of electoral fraud, ballot manipulation, betrayal of public trust and crime against the State perpetrated in this election by the APC and unscrupulous INEC officials which must not go unpunished.

“Nigerians can recall that the PDP had on several occasions alerted that the APC had compromised the INEC system by planting APC members as Polling Officers to manipulate the electoral process and alter results in favour of the APC.

“The PDP demands that INEC effects the immediate arrest and prosecution of the indicted Presiding Officer Obozuwa Josephine, cancel the election in Osholo Primary School Polling Unit and take steps to address other such infractions in this election,” the statement read

The party commended the people of Edo State for their vigilance and urges them to remain resilient till the end.

Meanwhile, the PDP enjoined its members and supporters in Edo State to follow the results of the election from the Polling Units to the Ward, Local Government and State Collation Centers so as to prevent any manipulation or alteration.

The party also demanded that INEC ensures that all results as announced at the Polling Units are transparently uploaded to the INEC Server and duly declared at the Collation Centers in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines for the Edo State governorship election.

Ologunagba said “the PDP counsels the APC to respect the Will of the people of Edo State as expressed at the Polling Units.

“The PDP commends the people of Edo State for their resilience in enforcing their Will at the Polling Units despite the schemes of the APC and charges them to remain at alert in readiness to firmly defend their votes as they await the declaration of the final result heralding our victory.”