Group raises alarm over alleged plot to burn INEC office, destroy evidence
Following the contentious governorship election in Edo State, the Edo Youth Vanguard has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to burn the Benin City office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
HEARD VOICE reports that INEC declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the election.
Okpebholo garnered 291,667 votes, according to the result announced by INEC.
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate Asue Ighodalo, finished second with 247,274 votes.
However, Ighodalo and the PDP have moved to challenge the outcome of the election in court, alleging that the poll was rigged in favour of the APC.
In a statement on Tuesday, signed by Friday Eriki, the Edo Youth Vanguard said the PDP legal team had been denied access to electoral materials used in the September 21 governorship election.
“Besides using thugs to chase away the PDP legal team, there are fears of burning down INEC office to wipe away evidence.
“Already as at late night on Monday, four fire trucks were spotted parked around Ramat Park, a shouting distance from the INEC office,” the group said.
According to the group, it was strange to have fire trucks at the area. It linked the development to alleged sinister moves to deny the PDP opportunity to have evidence to pursue their case at the tribunal.
The tribunal has ordered INEC to provide the PDP legal team necessary documents to aid their case.
Meanwhile, the PDP has up to Friday to file all necessary documents and materials before the tribunal.
The group alleged the APC, with the assistance of INEC, is frustrating every effort to meet the deadline.
