Real reasons Police remove Governor Obaseki from INEC premises

• Governor Obaseki was removed from the INEC office by police after APC members protested his presence during the collation of results
• INEC's role as an impartial electoral body necessitated the governor's removal to ensure transparency
• This incident mirrors past actions taken during elections, where government officials were asked to leave sensitive areas to maintain public trust in the process

The recent incident in Edo State, where Governor Godwin Obaseki was escorted out of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office during the collation of results, has raised questions about the legality and necessity of such an action.

This article explores the constitutional and legal implications to understand why this decision was deemed appropriate by law enforcement.

APC supporters protested Governor Obaseki's presence at the INEC office in Edo. Photo: FB/Obaseki
Source: Twitter

Understanding the role of INEC in elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the body empowered by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022 to conduct and oversee elections in Nigeria.

According to the Constitution, INEC's functions include organizing, conducting, and supervising elections for federal, state, and local government offices.

In performing these functions, INEC must remain independent and impartial.

Section 153 of the Nigerian Constitution establishes INEC as an independent body free from the interference of government officials, including state governors, especially when it comes to the collation and announcement of election results.

Why Was Obaseki Escorted Out?

Governor Obaseki’s presence at the INEC office during the collation of election results raised concerns about undue influence.

Given that Obaseki is the sitting governor, his presence in the building could be seen as an attempt to influence the electoral process, even if unintended.

The APC, in fact, argued that he had no legal reason to be there, since he was neither a candidate nor an official involved in the election process.

Electoral Act 2022 empowers INEC to take all necessary steps to ensure the integrity and transparency of elections.

Allowing individuals, especially government officials, inside collation centers without valid reasons could undermine public trust in the electoral process.

This could also be seen as an abuse of power, as highlighted by the APC, which protested his presence, leading to the involvement of the police.

Maintenance of Law and Order

The police, led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Frank Mba, took steps to maintain order after APC members began protesting Governor Obaseki's presence.

Tolerating any political figure, particularly a sitting governor, to remain in a highly sensitive area like the INEC office could escalate tensions between rival political parties.

Obaseki storms INEC office amid collation delay

Legit.ng had earlier reported that Edo state governor Godwin Obaseki made a surprise visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) head office in Benin, Edo state, in the early hours of Sunday, September 22, following the delay in collating the governorship election results.

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Source: Legit.ng