The main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are embroiled in a war of words over alleged plots to manipulate the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and compromise INEC officials ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.

Edo APC, through its publicity secretary, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, a lawyer, alleged at a news conference in Benin that the CVR conducted by INEC between May 28 and June 5 was compromised by top officials of the electoral commission to favor PDP’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

APC further demanded the immediate deployment of INEC’s Head of ICT in Edo State, accusing the official of collaborating with a female staff member of INEC in Bayelsa State, who is married to a PDP chieftain in Edo State.

The APC claims that this rigging plot is being financed by Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP.

It said: “It has become expedient that the APC raises this alarm, and bring to the notice of well-meaning Nigerians, the ignoble plans by PDP’s leaders in Edo State to circumvent and rig the 2024 governorship election, using the CVR as a formidable platform.

“We have on good authority and from multiple sources that some gullible officials of INEC, in most of the 18 local government areas of Edo State, approached the outgoing Edo State government to provide them with ‘logistics’ for the CVR. In anticipation, these unpatriotic INEC officials have promised to allow the PDP unfettered access to INEC’s data-capturing machines.

“APC also found that Governor Obaseki and his Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, INEC’s former Director of voter Education, and Publicity, are working closely with the Head of INEC’s ICT unit so that PDP can manipulate the voter registers and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

“We demand strict compliance with wards’ headquarters as INEC’s designated venues for the CVR, complete restriction of transfer of voters from neighbouring states during the CVR, and rejection of the use of Obaseki’s uniformed thugs as security during the CVR,” it said.

Edo APC also expressed optimism that his standard bearer, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, would emerge victorious at the crucial poll.

Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, however, described the state’s leaders of APC as confused and disgruntled people, without anything to offer.

He said: “We are embarrassed that this is the quality of opposition the APC is offering in Edo State. We are interested in Edo people coming out to register during the CVR exercise. That is what governments do. Also, political parties encourage the people to come out to register, because it is the votes of the people that decide who will govern them.

“When INEC graciously decided to resume registration of voters, we were excited, and as a government, we encouraged our people to come out, because we believe that it is when more people register, then the government can be held accountable.

“Edo residents are satisfied with what we are doing as a government, and they will all come out to vote for us. We are not saying that INEC is totally unbiased, but it has a duty to register voters, and we will give it whatever support it needs. Edo State government has nothing to do with the manipulation of CVR,” he added.

Nehikhare also alleged that APC’s “ignorant” members and leaders in Edo were not prepared for the governorship poll, but rabble-rousing and trying to impress their paymasters.

INEC’s Spokesman in Edo, Timidi Wariowei, in his reaction, reiterated that the electoral umpire held stakeholders’ meeting in Benin on May 16, which was attended by leaders of PDP, APC and the 14 other participating political parties.

Wariowei said: “Our doors are open. It is not good to antagonise the electoral commission, when its officials have not done anything wrong. It is not fair to INEC and its officials. This is not the way to go.

“If anyone has anything to say, the person should come to the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha. It is wrong to dish out those allegations.”

The spokesman of INEC in Edo also assured that the commission would conduct a free, fair, and credible governorship election in the Southsouth state while urging politicians and their supporters not to heat the polity, but to give peace a chance, as they campaign in the 192 wards of Edo. (The Nation)

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