Obaseki violates Inec Protocol, escorted out of collation premises

On Sunday morning, a tense situation arose at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin, Edo State, where security forces escorted Governor Godwin Obaseki out. Upon arriving around 2 AM, Obaseki expressed concerns about potential irregularities in the collation process for several local government areas, including Oredo.

INEC officials informed the governor that his presence was inappropriate, echoing earlier instructions given to PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo, who had also been removed. Despite this, Obaseki refused to leave the premises.

A joint team of troops and police, led by DIG Frank Mba, arrived at the INEC office by 3 AM, and Obaseki was finally escorted out around 4:10 AM. Before his departure, APC National Secretary Surajudeen Basiru spoke to the press, arguing that Obaseki, not being a candidate, had no reason to be there and labeled his actions as an abuse of office. This incident followed a protest by APC members, including Honourable Dennis Idahosa, demanding the governor’s removal from the INEC location, claiming he lacked a legitimate reason to be present.

Source: Tony Osauzo