In a dramatic turn of events, thousands of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gathered on Monday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Benin City, Edo State. The protestors, led by the Deputy Governor-elect, Rt. Hon Dennis Idahosa, rallied against what they alleged to be an attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, to tamper with the election materials used in the September 21 governorship election. The protest comes ahead of the crucial hearing by the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal.
The demonstrators blocked access to the INEC office, resulting in a significant gridlock in the area. Chanting slogans and waving banners, they warned INEC against any unauthorized handling or tampering with the sensitive election documents. Protestors argued that any manipulation of these materials could undermine the credibility of the electoral process, which had been contested by PDP.
Despite the protest, PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, obtained a court-enrolled order granting them access to inspect and obtain certified copies of the electoral documents. According to the order, marked EPT/ED/GOV/01M/2024, the Tribunal instructed INEC to provide unfettered access to voter registers, ballot papers, and BVAS machines, among other essential materials.
Signed by Honourable Justice W. I. Kpochi, the order emphasized that these documents should remain secure, tamper-proof, and preserved until the tribunal concludes its proceedings. The court’s directive indicates that the PDP and its forensic team are allowed to inspect these materials to build their case for the petition challenging the election results.
As tensions mount, APC supporters have expressed distrust in PDP’s intentions, citing fears of manipulation. Legal representatives from the PDP, however, have maintained that the inspection is a lawful procedure granted by the tribunal to ensure transparency and accountability. Olusegun Jolaowo (SAN), a member of the PDP’s legal team, explained to journalists that their actions align with the court’s directive and are aimed at gathering evidence for their petition.
This protest underscores the heightened political tensions in Edo State as APC supporters vow to continue their demonstrations until they are confident that the election documents are secured and untouched. With INEC caught between two opposing parties, the situation in Benin remains tense as political stakeholders and citizens await the tribunal’s proceedings.
The unfolding events in Benin City have sparked widespread discussion online, with keywords like #EdoElection2024, #APCProtests, and #INEC trending as Nigerians express their opinions on the issue.
I think the protesters have a point – election integrity is crucial. But maybe theres more to this story than meets the eye.
Agreed, transparency is key. Lets dig deeper before jumping to conclusions.
I think the APC supporters have a right to protest if they suspect foul play. Lets hear both sides!
I think the protesters have a right to be upset. Lets not dismiss their concerns without looking into the alleged tampering claims.
They have a right to protest, but lets not jump to conclusions without evidence.
I think the protesters have a valid point. We need more transparency in our elections to ensure fairness for all parties.
Transparency is crucial. Lets hold our leaders accountable for fair elections.
I think the APC supporters have a valid reason to protest. Election integrity is crucial for democracy. Lets hope for a fair resolution.
I think the APC supporters have a right to protest if they feel the election materials were tampered with. Lets hear both sides before jumping to conclusions.
I dont understand why people are protesting over election materials. Cant they just have a peaceful discussion instead?
I think both sides need to chill and let the electoral process play out. Emotions running high wont solve anything.
I dont get why APC supporters are protesting. Maybe they should focus on improving their party instead of blaming others.
I think the APC supporters have a valid reason to protest. Election integrity is crucial, and any tampering should be thoroughly investigated.
Election integrity is important, but peaceful protests are key. Lets prioritize dialogue over chaos.
I think the APC supporters have a right to protest if they feel the election materials were tampered with. Lets hear both sides before judging.
I think the APC supporters have a valid reason to protest. Lets hear both sides before jumping to conclusions.
This protest seems fishy. Maybe the APC supporters have a valid reason to be upset about the election materials. Who knows?
I think the APC supporters have a right to be upset. Lets not dismiss their concerns without looking into the allegations further.
The allegations need thorough investigation before jumping to conclusions. Both sides deserve fair scrutiny.
I dont get why theyre protesting. Maybe they should focus on improving their candidates credibility instead. Priorities, people!
Protesting is a way to demand change. Candidates credibility wont fix everything. Priorities differ.
I dont get why theyre protesting. Maybe they should focus on improving their party instead of blaming others.
Maybe theyre protesting because they believe in holding those in power accountable.
I think both sides need to stop the drama and focus on finding a fair solution. Lets not let emotions cloud our judgment.
Stop being naive. Emotions are part of the problem. Solutions need logic, not feelings.
I think the protestors have a valid point. Election integrity should be a top priority for all parties involved.
I think the APC supporters have a right to protest if they believe there was tampering. Lets hear both sides!
I think the APC supporters have a valid reason to protest. Election integrity should be a top priority. Lets see how this unfolds.
APC supporters need to accept the election results. Protesting wont change the outcome.
I think the APC supporters should protest peacefully and follow legal channels instead of causing chaos. Lets uphold democracy!
I think the protest is justified. Election integrity is crucial, and any tampering should be thoroughly investigated. APC supporters have the right to demand transparency.
I think the APC supporters have a right to protest if they suspect election tampering. Transparency is crucial for democracy.
I think APC supporters have a valid reason to protest. Election integrity is crucial. Lets hear both sides before judging.
I think the APC supporters have a right to protest if they feel the election materials were tampered with. Lets hear both sides before judging.
Wow, those APC supporters need to chill! Maybe they should focus on winning fair and square instead of causing chaos.
I dont buy into the conspiracy theories. Lets wait for evidence before jumping to conclusions. Stay objective, folks.
I think the APC supporters have a valid reason to protest. Election integrity is crucial, and any tampering should be thoroughly investigated.
I think the APC supporters have a right to protest if they feel the election materials were tampered with. Transparency is key!
APC supporters need to accept the results. Protesting wont change the outcome. Time to move on.
I think the APC supporters have a valid reason to protest. Election integrity is crucial, and any tampering must be addressed.
Absolutely, election integrity is non-negotiable. APC supporters have every right to demand transparency.
I think the protest was justified. The election materials should be handled with utmost transparency to ensure a fair democratic process.