Election Drama Unfolds in Edo State as APC Expresses Concerns Over Fake Register

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has expressed concerns over the possibility of inspecting fake election registers, leading to a delay in the inspection process. The party had initially planned to inspect the registers on Wednesday, but due to a mix-up, they did not arrive with all the necessary materials.

APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, confirmed that the party was not aware of the new inspection process, which was supposed to start with the inspection of the registers. Tenebe pointed out that the APC was suspicious of the registers brought by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing the ongoing Supreme Court case between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, whose registration in Edo State is in question.

According to Tenebe, the APC thoroughly examined the register provided by INEC before the election and did not find the name of Asue Ighodalo, a candidate’s name mentioned in the court case. This has raised concerns that the register could be fake, and the APC wants to inspect it critically to ensure authenticity.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Anubgum Onuoha, denied allegations of resisting access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) inspection, claiming the allegations were "baseless, misleading and devoid of the truth." Onuoha invited all political parties, including the PDP, to inspect the BVAS on Wednesday.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legal team was present at the INEC headquarters but did not grant any interviews. The APC has expressed relief that INEC has agreed to move the inspection to Thursday, giving them more time to prepare.

The Edo State gubernatorial elections have been marred by controversy, with allegations of BVAS tampering and electoral malpractice. As the parties continue to bicker over the election, it remains to be seen how these latest developments will impact the outcome of the election.