Edo Nocturnal Political Drama: Police DIG Forces Governor Obaseki Out of INEC Office
The Gubernatorial election in Edo State assumed a rowdy nocturnal dimension as incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki was reportedly forced out of the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Benin by the DIG Frank Mba in the early hours of Sunday morning.
By: Olufemi Orunsola
The Gubernatorial election in Edo State assumed a rowdy nocturnal dimension as incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki was reportedly forced out of the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Benin by the DIG Frank Mba in the early hours of Sunday morning.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA OTN News gathered that the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki had entered the promises unannounced at around 2 a.m, allegedly to protest some anomalies in the collation of results of some local government areas including his Oredo LG.
The Governor reportedly headed for the office of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) while he had the audience of officials of INEC who were said to have told him that he was supposed to be there just as the Peoples Democratic Party PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo was sent back earlier but he was to have insisted to stay.
However, at about 3 a.m, a combined team of policemen led by DIG Frank Mba and soldiers entered the premises and around 4 a.m, he was escorted out of the premises by the security men who shouted at the governor, “Leave! leave!”
Minutes before Obaseki was led outside by Mba flanked by a contingent of policemen, All Progressives Congress National Secretary, Surajudeen Basiru, addressed journalists that the governor had no reason to be in the premises.
Basiru said, “He is not a candidate. He has no reason to be here”, describing the governor’s action as an arrant abuse of office.
Before the sitting governor was forced out of the INEC premises, members of the All Progressives Congress led by Monday Okpebholo’s running mate, Honourable Dennis Idahosa, led protesters to demand the exit of Governor Godwin Obaseki from the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission at about 4 am on Sunday.
Idahosa, who was shouting on top of the voice from outside the gate, in the company of others demanded the immediate evacuation of the governor, insisting that Obaseki had no business being there.
He insisted, “Obaseki must come out! He is not supposed to be here! He is not an INEC Staff. Nigeria Police should not compromise!”
OTN News gathered that there was utmost rowdiness at the INEC office as protesters who mounted at the gate of the INEC office repeatedly tried to gain entrance into the premises of INEC but they were prevented from entering hence they took to banging the gate to drive home their demands.
The protest leader was later allowed to join the meeting which held behind closed doors.
Obaseki reportedly left the INEC office around 4:45 am, but his security personnel prevented journalists from speaking with him.
Although INEC is yet to commence collation of the results, the commission has made significant progress uploading them on its iREV portal.
As of the time of filing this report, the result sheets of 4259 polling units out of the total of 4519 polling units had been uploaded on the iREV portal.
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