Taiwo Popoola
The outgoing governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki was forced to exit the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, amid collation of results in Saturday’s Governorship election in the state.
According to reports, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mbah engineered the exit of Obaseki around 4:10 am on Sunday.
The development comes amid protest from the members of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Obaseki had entered the promises unannounced at around 2 am allegedly to protest some anomalies in the collation of results of some local government areas, including his Oredo.
Officials of INEC were said to have told him that he was not supposed to be there, just as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Asue Ighodalo was sent back earlier, but he was said to have insisted to stay.
At about 3 am, a combined team of policemen led by DIG Frank Mbah and soldiers entered the premises and by 4:10 am, he was escorted out of the premises by the security men who shouted at the governor, “Leave, leave.”
Minutes before Obaseki was led outside by Mbah flanked by a contingent of policemen, All Progressives Congress National Secretary, Surajudeen Basiru, addressed journalists that the governor had no reason to be in the premises.
Basiru said, “He is not a candidate. He has no reason to be here”, describing the governor’s action as an abuse of office.
Earlier, members of the All Progressives Congress led by Monday Okpebholo’s running mate, Honourable Dennis Idahosa, led protesters to demand the exit of Governor Godwin Obaseki from the INEC premises.
Idahosa, who was shouting on top of the voice from outside the gate, demanded alongside others for the removal 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.”
Earlier, protesters at intervals tried to gain entrance into the premises of the INEC but they were prevented from entering even when they repeatedly banged on the gate.
As the collation of results continues, data from the INEC Result Viewing Portal indicated that 98.23 percent of results from polling units have been uploaded which narrowed the governorship race between the APC and the PDP.
