The Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has lamented the alleged irregularities in the ongoing governorship election in the state.
He stated this on Sunday during a press conference organised by the Edo PDP National Campaign Council, at the party’s situation room in Benin City, the state capital, as chaired by the Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri.
Ighodalo said, “From our perspective, the way these elections are going, they are probably going to be the worst elections in the history of this country.
“We have information for instance, where we have over 20 polling units where the accredited voters are less than the total votes which is not possible.
“We have over 20 polling units from the results that were announced yesterday where from their accredited voters, the total votes that they’ve now announced are more than the accredited voters.”
The PDP governorship candidate gave instances of voter irregularities in the Ikpoba/Okha Ologbo polling unit.
In his remarks, Fintiri said, “I’m quite aware of the Electoral Act provision. I did not announce results, I only informed the public on the exact figure from our collation agent that was ongoing before INEC disrupted the process and they moved the collation to the INEC headquarters which is as well contrary to the Electoral Act provision.
“So, INEC should be accused of violating the Electoral Act, not me; because I’ve not announced any results. I only released figures that were ongoing at the collation time that INEC stopped collation at these centres.
“It’s quite unfortunate that in the 21st century that all countries are moving forward with their electoral processes, we’re still moving backwards. Powers that were not given to individuals are being exercised. The REC isn’t supposed to collate results, he’s supposed to conduct the election, and oversee that the process is fair and free; even at the local government and ward collation.”
