At last, INEC allows PDP, Ighodalo access to Edo guber election materials

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally granted Asue Ighodalo, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, and his party access to inspect materials used for the September 21 election, media reports have said.

Ighodalo is challenging the victory of Monday Okpebholo, Edo governor-elect.

Okpebholo, a serving senator, won the election with 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo who polled 247,274 votes.

However, the party said it was denied access to the materials when it made an attempt to inspect them on Monday. The inspection of election materials is one of the prerequisites in challenging any electoral result in Nigeria.

In a statement on Tuesday, Anugbum Onuoha, resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Edo, said the allegation that INEC refused the PDP from inspecting the election materials is false.

Onuoha said inspection of election materials is a fundamental right of all parties involved in election petitions.

“I wish to inform the public that the inspection of the election materials, including the BVAS devices, has been formally scheduled to take place tomorrow, October 9, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the INEC Headquarters in Edo state,” the REC said.

In reaction to INEC’s decision, Anthony Aziegbemin, Chairman of PDP in Edo State, said INEC’s decision allowing the party to inspect the materials is a “win for democracy”.

“I want to thank all those who came out to protest in support of Ighodalo’s quest to reclaim his stolen mandate,” he said.

“While I have lost faith in the Police and INEC, who I believe colluded with the APC to steal the election, I have absolute confidence in the judiciary.

“They will do right by the people of Edo State and uphold their decision to elect Asue as their governor.”

The chair said they are confident of defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the courts.