Tension at INEC Office as Governor Obaseki Escorted Out During Election Collation

In a dramatic turn of events during the ongoing Edo State gubernatorial election, Governor Godwin Obaseki was escorted out of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Benin City early Sunday morning. The INEC office serves as the central collation point for the election results, and the situation escalated when members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) demanded the governor’s exit.

Tensions rose when Dennis Idahosa, the APC deputy governorship candidate, arrived at the INEC office around 3:30 a.m., leading a group of party members. Idahosa questioned Governor Obaseki’s presence at the collation center, arguing that the governor had no legitimate reason to be there. He vocally expressed his concerns outside the gate, asserting that Obaseki’s continued presence could compromise the integrity of the election process.

According to reports, the intervention of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Frank Mba, who was overseeing security during the elections, helped de-escalate the situation. Mba, along with his team, ensured that Obaseki complied with the request to vacate the premises, thereby restoring calm. The governor left the INEC office around 4:45 a.m.

Speaking to journalists afterward, APC national secretary Surajudeen Basiru criticized Obaseki’s actions, describing them as inappropriate and a potential abuse of office. “Governor Obaseki is not a candidate in this election, and there is no valid reason for him to be at the collation center,” Basiru stated, reinforcing the party’s stance on transparency and fairness in the election process.

As the collation of election results continues, all eyes remain on the electoral process, with stakeholders calling for calm and adherence to due procedure. The situation has added to the heightened political atmosphere surrounding the Edo gubernatorial race.