Voters allege electoral malpractices, multiple voting in Edo election

Officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) attach the list of eligible voters on a wall during the Edo State governorship elections in Benin City, Midwestern Nigeria, on September 19, 2020. - Hundreds of thousand voters gathered at the polls in Edo State, Midwestern Nigeria to elect a new governor or re-elect the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a second term, the first elections in Africa's most populous country amidst coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

Pockets of Electoral malpractices ongoing in Uhunmwonde LGA as eligible voters have cried out over the massive rigging by a notable chieftain of a political party (names withheld) in the area.

A source who didn’t want his name in print told journalists that electoral malpractices including multiple voting by supporters of a certain political party, coupled with non-functioning of INEC Card readers in most units in Uhunmwonde LGA particularly in
Uvbeneisi primary school ward 7, where the said chieftain voted has been characterized with Electoral fraud and violence.
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Lamenting the activities of the chieftain of the APC in ward 7, the source said the politician invaded the voting centre with thugs to skew the election process in favour of his party and chased out supporters of the incumbent governor Godwin Obaseki.

The The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier said it was aware of a shooting incident in Orhionmwon local government area of Edo state, vowing to bring all electoral offenders to justice.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated this in his preliminary address at the “Edo Governorship Election Virtual Situation Control Room” which is holding through Zoom.

Yakubu added that the commission had also received images showing the alleged hijack of electoral materials in Ward 9, Unit 15 of Egor local government area in the state.

He said INEC might be forced to take decisive action against results generated from the affected unit.

Yakubu frowned at the violation of COVID-19 safety protocols especially with regards to the physical distancing rule.

The INEC boss said the commission had to activate its backup system by replacing all faulty Smart Card Readers at units where some card readers malfunctioned.

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