PDP calls for supplimentary election in Edo wards

PDP calls for supplimentary election in Edo wards

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 10:53 pm


Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct supplementary elections in two wards in Esan North East Local Government Area of the State.

The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Nehikhare, who spoke on Wednesday in Benin, said it would be in the interest of fairness.

He said the call had become imperative in view of the reported disruption of electoral processes in the wards.

He named the affected wards to include ward 8, unit 6, Attani, and ward 10, unit 9, Ebhoyi, both in Esan North East Constituency II.

He said that in both wards were reported cases of suspected APC members disruption the exercise during collation of ballot papers.

The PDP spokesman said in ward 8, unit 9, the exercise was disrupted by the suspected APC members when counting was ongoing and the PDP candidate Mr Igbas Ezehi was in clear lead.

He said that arising from the development, INEC cancelled the election held at the polling to be inclusive.

He also said that in the case of ward 10, unit 9, it was reported that a former council boss in the locality and a staunch member of the APC led some suspected thugs to disrupt the electoral process during collation.

He noted that the total number of registered voters in both wards where the election were inclusive was 2,326, whereas, the margin between the PDP candidate and the APC candidate who INEC declared as the winner was only 37.

The Publicity Secretary said that this action was contrary to the provisions of Section 26, subsection 1and 3 of the electoral Act and the guideline regulations issued by INEC for the 2019 elections.

He  therefore urged INEC not to apply double standard in the case of the Esan North East constituency II, by promptly conducting a supplementary elections in both wards which are at Attani and Ebhoyi.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Emmanuel Alex-Hart, however directed the candidate and the party to either go to the conventional court or tribunal if they feel aggrieved.

He said; “If the candidate is sure of what he is saying and could not put up a challenge, when his opponent was being declared as winner, he should go to court.

“I have just finish an election and I think the conventional courts and tribunal are there for such grievances.”


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