- On Monday, Oseh Anenih, the campaign’s director of strategy, said his party was prevented from inspecting the materials when it visited INEC’s office.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has granted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, permission to examine materials from the September 21 election.
Ighodalo is contesting Monday Okpebholo’s victory in the Edo governorship election, where Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes to Ighodalo’s 247,274.
Initially, the PDP claimed they were denied access to these materials on Monday, sparking controversy.
In Nigeria, inspecting election materials is a crucial step in challenging electoral outcomes.
In a Tuesday statement, Anugbum Onuoha, Edo’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), dismissed allegations that INEC blocked the PDP’s inspection.
Onuoha emphasized that all parties involved in election petitions have the fundamental right to inspect election materials.
“I wish to inform the public that the inspection of the election materials, including the BVAS devices, has been formally scheduled to take place tomorrow, October 9, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the INEC Headquarters in Edo state,” the REC said.
Edo PDP Chair Anthony Aziegbemin hailed INEC’s decision as a “win for democracy”.
“I want to thank all those who came out to protest in support of Ighodalo’s quest to reclaim his stolen mandate,” he said.
“While I have lost faith in the Police and INEC, who I believe colluded with the APC to steal the election, I have absolute confidence in the judiciary.
“They will do right by the people of Edo State and uphold their decision to elect Asue as their governor.”
Aziegbemin expressed confidence in defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) in court.