Edo election: CSOs reject results, allege electoral violations

A group of recognized civil society organizations, or CSOs, expressed doubts about the election’s integrity and transparency and challenged the results of the September 21 governorship race in Edo.

The coalition, which consists of eminent institutions including the Grassroot Development and Peace Initiative and the Advocacy for Quality Leadership and Health Awareness Foundation, released a statement outlining major anomalies seen throughout the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, tabulated the results at the ward and local government levels, but the observers disapproved of the findings from more than 4,500 polling places.

A statement by the CSOs, signed by its key coordinators, Mrs. Rose Akhigbe, Comrade Peter Nwokolo, Engr. Anyasor Gabriel, and Comrade Sunny Elekwa, who all have been vocal in expressing their concerns over the election’s transparency, stated that INEC’s actions during the collation process contradicted the provisions outlined in the Electoral Act 2022.

“We reject the collation of results at the wards and local governments because INEC complied with the Electoral Act at the polling units but violated it during the collation,” said Comrade Peter Nwokolo.
The coalition highlighted that there were two sets of result sheets— one used in the field and another that appeared to favor the All Progressive Congress, APC, in specific regions.

The observers also raised the alarm about the involvement of military and police personnel, who allegedly disrupted the collation process and intimidated INEC officials.

“There was militarization and use of impunity at wards, local governments, and state collation centers,” they stated, calling into question the credibility of the entire electoral process.

The coalition declared their rejection of the results, which announced APC’s candidate Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the winner, stating, “Results were only collated at the units and some wards before the military and police interfered.”

As the coalition seeks to address these pressing concerns, they urge for a comprehensive review of the electoral process to restore public trust in Nigeria’s democratic practices.

The coalition represents a diverse of organizations, including the Advocacy for Quality Leadership and Health Awareness Foundation, Grassroots Development and Peace Initiative, Citizens Rights and Leadership Awareness Initiative, and the Centre for Development & Transformation Initiative.

Other organizations in the coalition include the Initiative for Peace, Humanity, and Social Advancement for Women; Global Development Centre for Rescue Mission in Nigeria; Centre for Social Values and Early Childhood Development, and the Amazon Women of Substance Initiative.