INEC
By Victory Oghene
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared its readiness to investigate an allegation of fabricated figures inputted into polling unit result sheets in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State.
INEC made this known in a statement on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
The electoral umpire said this after one of its presiding officers, Obozuwa Josephine, allegedly recorded more votes than accredited voters at Osholo Primary School in Weppa Ward, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The total number of accredited voters according to Form EC 8A filled by Josephine was 213, while 406 votes were recorded as the total number of valid ballots cast.
Speaking on the development, INEC said: “The Commission’s attention has been drawn to an allegation of wrong figures entered into polling unit result sheets in the ongoing Edo State Governorship election.
“This is the second complaint we have received out of the 4,519 polling units used for the election.
“The Commission will immediately investigate the matter and deal with any proven infraction.”
In its reaction to the result sheets, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demanded Josephine’s immediate arrest and prosecution.
The PDP, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, said Josephine allocated non-existent votes to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ologunagba stated: “The election result sheet for Osholo Primary School Polling Unit, Weppa in Etsako East Local Government Area shows that whereas 213 voters were accredited, Obozuwa Josephine criminally and fraudulently allocated 352 votes to the APC, 52 to the PDP and one to the LP, giving a total of 406 as votes cast.
“It is highly provocative that the INEC PO Obozuwa Josephine could be so compromised by the APC to audaciously and feloniously allocate unearned 352 votes to the APC above the 213 voters officially accredited in that Polling Unit.”
