Edo 2024: How Obaseki blocked APC’s alleged rigging tactics

As Nigerians await the official results of the Edo State Governorship election, Governor Godwin Obaseki is being credited with thwarting an alleged attempt to manipulate the vote count.

In a late-night intervention, Obaseki reportedly stormed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) State Headquarters to halt irregularities during the collation of results.

INEC had controversially suspended the collation of votes from key areas, including Ikpoba Okha, Egor, and Oredo Local Government Areas, and transferred the process to the State INEC office in Aduwawa, Ikpoba Okha.

This move, which many viewed as a violation of the Electoral Act and INEC’s own guidelines, raised alarms about potential vote manipulation.

Governor Obaseki’s intervention was both timely and critical. Upon arriving at the INEC office, he reportedly demanded that officials adhere strictly to the law, pressuring INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, to suspend the suspicious proceedings.

READ ALSO: Edo Decides: INEC at a crossroad

Political analysts have praised Obaseki’s move, with Dr. Tayo Adebayo, an electoral expert, describing it as “a decisive action that safeguarded the integrity of the electoral process.”

“Had Obaseki not intervened, we could have seen a situation where the results were manipulated under the cover of night,” Adebayo explained.

“By ensuring that the collation process remained transparent, he has reaffirmed the importance of adhering to electoral guidelines.

The fact that PDP agents were previously denied access to the venue only adds to the suspicion.”

Obaseki’s late-night visit is seen as a strategic move to prevent tampering with the results. His actions not only forced a halt to the process but also restored a degree of public confidence in the transparency of the election.

Without this intervention, the results from critical local councils could have been compromised, raising further questions about the fairness of the election.

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This incident highlights the ongoing struggle in Nigerian politics to maintain electoral integrity, with observers lauding Obaseki’s resolve in defending democratic norms.

As the nation continues to watch the Edo election closely, the governor’s bold action may well have ensured that the will of the people is respected.