Edo election: INEC begins collation, to review results declared under duress
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State has commenced the collation of results for the 2024 governorship election, with plans to review any results that might have been declared under duress. Here’s what we know based on the information available up to September 22, 2024:
- Collation Start Time: INEC announced that the collation of results would begin at 10 AM on Sunday, September 22, 2024. This process follows the voting that took place on Saturday.
- Transparency and Review: INEC has emphasized transparency in the collation process, indicating a commitment to review any results that might have been influenced by duress or irregularities. This includes handling reports of disturbances such as a stampede in Okpoba Okha Local Government Area and demonstrations at the State Head Office.
- Public and Political Reaction: There’s significant interest and contention around the election’s outcome, with various political parties claiming victory or expressing concerns over the process. For instance, there have been reports of jubilation from supporters of different parties, suggesting a tight race or contested results.
- INEC’s Response to Challenges: Despite these challenges, INEC has moved forward with the collation, indicating a robust mechanism in place for addressing complaints during the collation, including the power to review results declared under duress. This reflects INEC’s effort to maintain the integrity of the electoral process amidst pressures.
- Security and Electoral Integrity: INEC has called upon security agencies to maintain vigilance, indicating that while the election itself was conducted peacefully, the post-election environment, especially around collation centers, has seen some disturbances which they aim to mitigate.
- Platform Sentiment: On X (formerly Twitter), there’s a mix of celebration, concern, and criticism regarding the election process. Claims of victory by different parties, alongside reports of irregularities, paint a picture of a highly contested election with significant public interest.
Given this context, while INEC proceeds with the collation, the focus remains on ensuring that the process adheres to established guidelines, potentially re-examining any results where duress or coercion might have played a role. This approach underscores INEC’s commitment to delivering a credible election, even if it means revisiting how certain results were declared. However, the final outcome and the detailed review process are still unfolding as of the latest information available.
