Hundreds of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have taken to the streets in Benin-City to protest the ongoing release of the last Wednesday governorship election results in Edo State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
BusinessDay reports that the results from the nine local governments so far released gave APC leads over PDP.
The local governments so far won by APC are Owan West, Egor, Oredo, Uhunmwode, Igueben while PDP won Esan South- East, Esan North- East, Orhionmwon and Esan West respectively.
As INEC released the results of the election, PDP supporters stormed the premises of INEC office along Aduwawa road, Ikpoba Okha local government area chanting antic-protest and solidarity songs.
The protesters armed with placard of various inscriptions accused the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, APC in connivance with INEC and security agents manipulation the results of the election to favour the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki.
Some of the inscriptions on the placard are, “INEC is giving us fake results, Injustice to one is an injustice to all, APC and Oshiomhole must go, INEC has changed PDP results, for peace to reign give us the right result, give us our results “INEC took bribe from APC, PDP won the 2016 election,’ INEC give us our actual results,’ ‘INEC give PDP their true result’, amongst others.
According to the protesters, PDP won the election in all the eighteen council areas of the state, adding that the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole allegedly stormed INEC at the wee hours of today to induce the electoral body to change the figures.
“INEC took bribe from APC, PDP won the 2016 election,’ INEC give us our actual results,’ ‘INEC give PDP their true result’, amongst others.
The protesters made up of mostly women and youths called the governor and his party, the APC unprintable names, threatening fire and brimstone if the PDP is shortchanged.
The protesters who defied security operatives especially armed anti-riot policemen, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps vowed to continue with the protest until justice was done.
They who also took over the highways within the INEC office thereby obstructing vehicles vans belonging to an unidentified top police officer from advancing toward his direction.
One of the protesters, Lindsay Tes Sorae from Ovia North East council area said the people will not accept the release being released by the electoral umpire, alleging that the governor gave orders to INEC to change the results.
Another protester, Eba from Ikpoba-Okha council area said they were already in high spirit earlier this morning, noting that there hopes were being dashed as the results were being announced from the various council areas.
“If APC win, they should win squarely, we will have no problem with that. But let them announce the right result of which PDP won in almost all the council areas.
“As at yesterday evening we were already jubilation get because PDP was leading but what we are hearing now is different from the votes that were generated from the polling units.” She said.
They situation was however put order control by security personnel who released several canisters of teargas to dispatch them.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
