Observers raise alarm over disruptions in Edo governorship collation process

A prominent election observation group, Yiaga Africa, has raised serious concerns about disruptions in the collation of results for Oredo and Ikpoba/Okha local government areas during the Edo State governorship election.

The group reported that observers and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials were teargassed during the collation process in Ikpoba/Okha.

In a statement posted early Sunday morning on its X page, Yiaga Africa stated:

“Reports from our LGA collation centre observers indicate disruptions in the collation process for Oredo and Ikpoba/Okha. Observers and INEC officials are being teargassed in Ikpoba/Okha.”

The group emphasized that shifting the collation of local government area (LGA) results to the state headquarters violates standard procedures.

They urged INEC to resist intimidation and interference and to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

Yiaga Africa further stressed that accredited observers, media, and party agents should have full access to monitor the collation process as required by electoral law.

The disruptions in the collation process follow earlier reports from Yiaga Africa on incidents of vote buying and polling unit disruptions in several LGAs.

Observers documented cases of party agents from the All Progressives Congress (APC) offering cash bribes to voters, including N10,000 handouts at polling units in Ikpoba/Okha and Igueben.

Yiaga Africa’s warnings add to growing concerns over the transparency of the ongoing election.