Edo: INEC suspends election material inspection indefinitely, as suspected thugs clash

Silhouette of political thugs

 

By Jethro Ibileke

Inspection of the materials used for the 21 September governorship election in Edo State by seven political parties was forced to adjourn indefinitely on Thursday, following disagreement by the two major parties, the APC and the PDP.

The inspection process that was supposed to commence on Wednesday, had to be postponed till 10am Thursday, following inability of the APC and the PDP to agree on the way forward.

As the exercise was about to commence on Thursday, the State Chairman, of APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, drew attention of the INEC Director of operations to a petition, alleging that BVAS machines and Voters Register were on Wednesday brought into the INEC complex with vehicles from the state government house.

Amongst other things, Tenebe contended that its petition should be addressed before commencing inspection of materials, an argument which was sternly rejected by representatives of the PDP who insisted on the commencement of materials inspection.

It contended that the petition being frivolous, baseless and lacking the truth cannot supercede a valid court order and called for the commencement of the inspection.

Following inability of the parties, particularly the APC and the PDP to agree on the way forward, the electoral umpire decided to adjourned the inspection sine die.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the adjournment, Counsel to the APC, Barr. Victor Ohionsumua, said that the APC will only return for the inspection of the materials only when their petition is addressed.

He said: “The state APC Chairman this morning, (Thursday) submitted a petition to the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Onuoha Anugbum, the Commissioner of Police and Department of State Services (DSS) in Edo that he noticed and saw BIVAS machines and Voters’ Register entering INEC complex a few days ago with Edo State Government vehicles.

“On the basis of that, we raised the objection that the petition has to be determined first before we can go ahead of the materials inspection. The INEC legal officer wanted to go ahead with inspection without any directives from the state  Dr. Anugbum.

“We insisted that we must hear from the REC and our petition must be determined before we move forward. In the process, the place (INEC office) became rowdy and we started hearing gunshots outside the complex.

“The INEC Director of Operations then said that because of security reasons as our lives are in danger, decided to adjourn the inspection sine die and he has not told us to come back tomorrow (Friday).

Also reacting to the development, the factional Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, maintained that the atmosphere at the state INEC head office was not conducive for the inspection to commence.

He said: “The experience here is a total melee and not a conducive atmosphere for which an exercise of that kind can take place. It is in my view therefore, that the agency and the political parties concerned must come together look at what they can do to ensure that the exercise is conducted

“For me, a level playing field should be given to those who are contesting the outcome of the election. In order that we can get to a platform that is acceptable to the generality of the people of Edo State.

“For today, there is a total disagreement between the APC and the PDP and I am not sure any exercise can happen here today,” he said.

Meanwhile, seven persons believed to be political thugs, have reportedly sustained bullet wounds when suspected supporters of the two major parties, APC and the PDP clashed a short distance away from the INEC building.