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Political tension is brewing in Edo State as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused by the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of colluding with the APC to derail or unnecessarily elongate the hitherto ongoing process of examining the ballot papers used for the September 28 Edo State gubernatorial election.
The Head of Operations of INEC Edo State, Mr. James Adewusi, locked the strong room of INEC and took the keys home and left a note that he is on holidays until January 9, 2017.
The implication of this action is that the ongoing process of ballot paper inspection would be stalled and the tribunal time would be delayed.
Although the Federal government of Nigeria declared only 26th and 27th as public holiday, and noting that a very serious time bound case is on ground needing urgent attention, Mr Adewusi, who has been accused by the media of being on the payroll of the APC, declared a personal a vacation for himself, without prior notification, for 22nd December 2016 to 9th January 2017.
This was revealed Thursday through the action of the said James Adewusi who abandoned his duty post that stalled the process of inspection of ballot papers used in the 2016 gubernatorial election in Edo State.
The three devices that the PDP brought passed the test which the tribunal, on the prayers of the APC, set for the PDP.
Apparently unhappy that the PDP devices passed the tests quickly, Mr James Adewusi was reported to have, after receiving a call from sources suspected to be APC leadership, decided to put spanner in the works by announcing previously unscheduled vacation.
When the PDP team arrived the INEC office Thursday, obviously ready to work, they were told that Adewusi had left with the key of the strong room housing the ballot papers.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s chief agent Barr Chris Agbonwanegbe and the PDP State Secretary, Barr. Felix Omi Imoisili put several calls to Mr Adewisi’s phone number but there was no response from him.
Addressing press at the INEC office in Benin, Barr. Felix Imoisili said that the PDP were ready to continue with the exercise until the date declared as public holiday.
Displaying a letter written by the INEC headquarters in Abuja, Omi said that INEC had stated in the letter that any party that voluntarily stayed out of the exercise would do so at their detriment. The letter further stated that inspection of the ballot papers will start by 9am EVERY DAY even if the other parties concerned are not present.
Barr. Felix Omi Imoisili vowed that the PDP would petition every relevant agency to see that neccessary actions are taken.
Meanwhile civil societies in Edo state have met and are meeting to discuss strategy to resist this obstacle which many believe are created by the usual suspect. Three NGOs and civil society groups in Edo state have said that should the state of affairs continue at INEC, they would start street protests.
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