The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed strong disapproval of the invasion of its Head Office in Benin by stakeholders involved in the Edo governorship election.
On the morning of Sunday, September 22, 2024, Governor Godwin Obaseki arrived at the INEC office to protest alleged irregularities in the election result collation. Shortly after his arrival, officials and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including Deputy Governorship candidate Dennis Idahosa and National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, also stormed the premises to protest Obaseki’s presence.
Security agents intervened to diffuse the situation, leading to Obaseki being escorted out of the INEC office around 4:45 am.
In response, Mallam Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Member of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, condemned the invasion by political actors. He noted a separate incident on Saturday involving a threat to the INEC office in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, which resulted in injuries to some officials. Haruna described the situation as deeply concerning and underscored the need for respect for the electoral process and INEC’s operations