INEC bows to pressure, allows PDP to inspect election materials in Edo

In a significant turn of events, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State has agreed to permit the legal representatives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, to inspect materials used in the contentious September 21 governorship election.

This decision comes after intense pressure from the PDP, which had accused INEC of obstructing access to essential electoral materials.

Initially, INEC had resisted requests from the PDP’s legal team, despite a court order mandating that the party be allowed to inspect the materials.

The commission’s refusal to comply led to accusations of “hide and seek” tactics, frustrating the PDP’s efforts to compile a robust petition against the election results.

READ ALSO: Women protest alleged election fraud in Edo, demand restoration of Ighodalo’s mandate

Dr. Ighodalo publicly criticized INEC’s actions, expressing concerns that the electoral body, in collaboration with the All Progressives Congress (APC), was deliberately delaying the process to hinder the party’s legal recourse.

On Tuesday, in response to the mounting public outcry and pressure from party leaders, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr. Anugbom Onuoha announced that the PDP’s legal representatives could proceed with the inspection on Wednesday.

This development was welcomed by party supporters, who viewed it as a victory for transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

The Team Asue Media Organisation (TAMO) had previously issued a strong statement condemning the alleged obstructive tactics employed by the police and APC supporters.

Signed by Erhabor Emokpae, the statement accused the Nigeria Police Force of complicity in thwarting the PDP’s efforts to access the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) data used in the election. The organization emphasized that such actions undermine democracy and threaten the rule of law in Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Edo: PDP accuses INEC of flouting court order amid election dispute

TAMO highlighted that despite overwhelming evidence of electoral misconduct, the PDP’s attempts to seek justice through legal channels faced aggressive resistance from APC-aligned groups and law enforcement officials.

The media organization criticized elements within the police for aligning with those seeking to derail justice, which further compounded the challenges faced by the PDP.

Reacting to the announcement that access would finally be granted, Emokpae expressed gratitude for the collective efforts of the PDP, Team Asue, and the women of Edo State in advocating for the inspection.

He stated that the decision to allow the legal team to inspect the materials was a crucial step toward ensuring electoral integrity and upholding democratic principles in the state.