Massive protests have broken out in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area in Edo State, as residents accuse officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of attempting to collate election results without using the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The residents, angered by what they perceive as a deliberate plan to manipulate the outcome of the ongoing governorship election, have taken to the streets, demanding transparency and adherence to the established voting procedures.
Eyewitnesses reported that INEC officials had attempted to proceed with result collation in various polling units across the area without the proper use of BVAS, which is crucial for verifying the identities of voters and preventing election fraud.
The move has sparked widespread outrage, with many protesters accusing the electoral body of siding with certain political interests.
One of the protest leaders, Mr. Olumide Omoruyi, a resident of Ikpoba-Okha, said: “We saw what they were trying to do! They want to announce results without BVAS accreditation. This is illegal and unacceptable!
We will not allow them to rig this election. Every vote must count, and it must be through proper accreditation. INEC officials are here for a reason, to ensure fairness. What we’re seeing now is the opposite.”
The protesters have been chanting anti-INEC slogans like “No BVAS, No Results!” and “INEC, Do Your Job!”
Several of the residents have also expressed concerns that the absence of BVAS verification opens the door for massive vote rigging in favour of certain political candidates.
Many residents have taken to social media to post videos and pictures of the protests, accusing the electoral commission of complicity in an elaborate scheme to rig the election.
Mrs. Mercy Iduoze, another resident said: “We all know that BVAS is the only way to stop election fraud. Why are they refusing to use it now?
“INEC promised us a free and fair election, but what is happening here today is far from fair. If they collate results without BVAS, then this election is already compromised.”
The tension in Ikpoba-Okha has reached a boiling point, with residents threatening to escalate the protests if INEC does not take immediate action to address the issue.
Some have called on the national leadership of INEC and security agencies to intervene before the situation spirals out of control.
The atmosphere remains tense, with fears that if INEC does not act swiftly, the unrest could spread to other parts of the state.