The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday night confirmed that it has received two complaints regarding the ongoing Edo State governorship election and has promised a thorough investigation to address the issues.
According to a statement posted on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, INEC said the allegations pertain to incorrect figures being entered into polling unit result sheets, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
“The Commission’s attention has been drawn to an allegation of wrong figures entered into polling unit result sheets in the ongoing Edo State Governorship election. This is the second complaint we have received out of the 4,519 polling units used for the election. The Commission will immediately investigate the matter and deal with any proven infraction,” INEC assured.
The commission’s swift response to the complaints reflects its commitment to ensuring that the election process remains transparent and credible. INEC has emphasized that any proven cases of misconduct or fraud will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
This statement came shortly after reports emerged regarding alleged irregularities in the election. Earlier, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) called for the arrest and prosecution of the INEC Presiding Officer, Obozuwa Josephine, over allegations of electoral malpractice. The PDP accused the officer of fraudulently inflating votes in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Osholo Primary School Polling Unit, Weppa in Etsako East Local Government Area.
In its report, the PDP claimed that despite 213 voters being accredited at the polling unit, Obozuwa Josephine allegedly allocated 352 votes to the APC, far exceeding the actual number of accredited voters. According to the PDP, the results sheet showed that APC received 352 votes, PDP 52, and the Labour Party (LP) 1, totaling 406 votes—well above the 213 accredited voters.
“This fraudulent allocation of votes is highly provocative and raises serious questions about the impartiality of INEC officials involved in the process,” the PDP stated. “We demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of Obozuwa Josephine for criminally inflating votes in favor of the APC, as well as the prosecution of other members of the APC who were involved in this electoral heist.”
The PDP has called on INEC to act swiftly and transparently to correct these discrepancies, noting that such irregularities undermine public confidence in the electoral system and could lead to unrest among voters.
