Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki arrived at the head office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin City, the state capital, in the early hours of Sunday.
INEC’s state head office is the main collation centre for the ongoing governorship election.
Accompanied by his security aides, the governor walked into the office of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha. for a meeting which did not last 30 minutes.
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by their deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, led protesters to demand Obaseki’s from the INEC premises at about 3.30am.
Idahosa, who was shouting on top of his voice from outside the gate, demanded, alongside others, for the exit of the governor as he stated that he had no business being there.
He said: “Obaseki must come out. He is not supposed to be here. He is not an INEC staff. Nigeria Police should not compromise”.
At interval, the protesters tried to gain entrance into the premises, but were prevented from entering even when the repeatedly banged on the gate.
At some point during the drama, the Deputy Inspector General incharge of the election, Frank Mba, came into the premises with his team and headed to where Obaseki was.
Late Saturday night tensions were rising in the ongoing governorship election as the INEC acknowledged a second complaint regarding discrepancies in polling unit results.
In a statement posted on its official X account late Saturday night, INEC assured the public of swift action, vowing to investigate allegations of incorrect figures being entered into result sheets.
