TESA Petitions INEC Over Alleged Compromise of Electoral Officers in Edo State

With the gubernatorial election in Edo State just weeks away, the Transparency for Electoral Systems Advocacy (TESA) has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the upcoming election. In a formal petition addressed to Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), TESA has highlighted alarming reports of compromised behavior by Electoral Officers (EOs) in Edo State, which it claims threatens the fairness and credibility of the electoral process.

The petition, dated 24th August 2024, specifically accuses certain EOs of colluding with leaders of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State. According to TESA, these compromised officers have allegedly been meeting with PDP leaders, resulting in the denial of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to members of the public, particularly those supporting opposition parties like the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party.

One particularly troubling incident mentioned in the petition involved Mrs. Uduak Obot, the EO of Esan Central Local Government Area. TESA alleges that on Friday, 23rd August 2024, Mrs. Obot was seen at the residence of a former PDP Senator in Irrua. This meeting, according to TESA, is part of a broader conspiracy in which PVCs meant for the public were instead handed over to PDP leaders in a bid to manipulate the outcome of the election.

TESA’s concerns are further amplified by a recent viral video on social media, in which a woman named Edith Uwadia from Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area in Edo South Senatorial District claimed that she was denied her PVC because INEC officials had handed over bulk PVCs to PDP leaders after allegedly receiving bribes. This has led to widespread public outcry, with many citizens expressing frustration and fear that their voices will be silenced in the upcoming election.

In its petition, TESA is calling for several urgent actions to address these issues:

1. Immediate removal of the EOs in Esan Central, Ikpoba-Okha, and other implicated local government areas in Edo State to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process.

2. Thorough investigation by security agencies into the activities of the compromised EOs to hold them accountable and restore public confidence in the electoral system.

3. Withdrawal of the current INEC Commissioner in Edo State from overseeing the election, due to his alleged close ties with PDP leaders and the high level of corruption under his watch.

4. Direct oversight by the INEC National Chairman in managing the activities leading up to the 21st September 2024 governorship election in Edo State.

5. Heightened vigilance by the police, DSS, and other security agencies to monitor and investigate any attempts to compromise the electoral process, including the conduct of ad-hoc staff, election observers, and security officials.

TESA has emphasized that the integrity of the electoral process in Edo State is critical to the nation’s democracy. The organization has pledged to cooperate with other agencies and organizations to ensure that the governorship election is conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner.

As the election date approaches, all eyes are on INEC and the relevant authorities to take decisive action in addressing these concerns and safeguarding the democratic process in Edo State.