Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the publicity secretary of APC in Edo State, Prince Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, yesterday explained why the collation of Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government results were moved to the State Collation Centre.
The movement of the collation from the original centres has generated controversy over the outcome of Saturday’s Edo State governorship election.
The State Collation Centre was in the state office of INEC in Benin City, the state capital. The National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Sam Olumekun, INEC spokesperson in Benin, Toyin Olayiwola, said the umpire wanted to protect the ballot boxes and collation sheets from threat. Olumekun said the collation centre was moved due to security concerns.
He said the commission was empowered by law to choose any location for the collation of results if there was a threat to the security of lives and property.
Olumekun said the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), in charge of the election, Frank Mba, said he could not guarantee the security of men and materials at the two collation centres.
