The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has leveled serious allegations against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), claiming that the agency manipulated the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and other materials related to the Edo State Governorship election conducted on September 21, 2024, in violation of a court order.
PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba accused certain compromised INEC officials of invoking the excuse of awaiting “directives from above” to facilitate the intrusion of thugs allegedly affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the INEC office in Edo State. This, he contends, was aimed at creating chaos and obstructing the PDP’s access to crucial electoral materials.
Ologunagba made these statements in a message shared on the PDP’s X handle.
He condemned the reported denial by INEC officials in Edo State of access to the BVAS machines and other election materials for the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, which he stated contravened a court order.
The statement read: “Our party wishes to inform the public about how compromised INEC officials have utilized the excuse of waiting for ‘directives from above’ to permit thugs associated with the APC and certain unscrupulous police personnel to invade the INEC office in Edo State, thereby creating confusion and hindering the PDP from obtaining these sensitive materials.”
He emphasized that INEC’s refusal to provide the necessary materials is a blatant disregard for the order issued by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Benin City on September 29, 2024, which mandated the Commission to allow the PDP and its candidate “unfettered access to inspect all electoral documents in the custody of the National Chief Electoral Commissioner or any officer of the Commission.”
“The actions taken by INEC in Edo State validate reports of collusion between some of its officials and the APC to obstruct justice and suppress evidence of election result manipulation, which the PDP and its candidate clearly won,” he asserted.
Ologunagba further revealed that information available to the PDP suggests that compromised INEC officials and the APC are conspiring to alter data in the BVAS machines, results sheets, ballot papers, and other critical information to favor the APC candidate who was defeated.
He underscored the necessity for Nigerians and the international community to recognize a troubling trend in INEC’s behavior, which he believes threatens the integrity of democracy and undermines its responsibility to uphold democratic principles through free, fair, and credible elections, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant electoral laws.
