The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has condemned the overnight presence of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, other political leaders, and their supporters in its state office in Benin City ahead of the collation of final results.

The commission said it was deeply troubled by the development, stating that “nobody should disrupt the process at any stage, and no one will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness.”

National Commissioner and Member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, made this observation in a statement on Sunday.

Accompanied by his security aides, Obaseki reportedly walked into the INEC office in Benin City around 2 a.m., where he held a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

However, some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed the INEC office in protest, demanding the governor’s exit from the commission’s office.

Among the protesters were Ajibola Basiru, National Secretary of the APC, and Dennis Idahosa, running mate to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the APC.

The Edo governor was at the INEC headquarters to protest the collation process, which he and his party alleged had been compromised against them.

He was reportedly escorted out by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Edo election, Frank Mba.

INEC expressed concerns about the visit of the politicians and their supporters to the office, stating there is a mechanism for addressing complaints during collation, including the power to review results declared under duress.

The Commission said it would not hesitate to invoke such powers where necessary.

The statement said: “Following the conclusion of voting yesterday, the Commission activated the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and uploaded the Polling Unit results in earnest. The same results have also been collated from all the 192 Wards. Similarly, collation has been concluded in most of the Local Government Areas, and the designated officials are already at the collation centre in Benin City or on their way. We are set to commence State-level collation.

“However, the Commission received a deeply disturbing report from our Resident Electoral Commissioner of a threat to our office in Okpoba Okha Local Government Area yesterday, resulting in a stampede in which one of our officials was injured. We are similarly disturbed by the overnight presence and demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at our State Head Office ahead of the commencement of final collation. These actions are uncalled for. Nobody should disrupt the process at any stage, and no one will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the collation of results will proceed as provided by the Electoral Act 2022 and our regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections. There is a mechanism for addressing complaints during collation, including the power to review results declared under duress. The Commission will not hesitate to invoke such powers where necessary.

“Accredited party agents, observers, and the media should be granted unimpeded access to all collation centres.

“The Commission calls on the security agencies to continue to maintain the same vigilance and professionalism that led to the peaceful conduct of the election as we conclude the process.”