#EdoDecides2024: PDP Campaign Director Leads Protest at INEC Office in Benin City

The Director General of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, led a protest by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Benin City during the early hours of Sunday.

The protest, which began at approximately 2:27 AM, was aimed at disputing the ongoing electoral process. According to the PDP, the election results were being manipulated in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While collation of election results was set to begin in the INEC Conference Hall, the protesters gathered outside the INEC office, accusing the electoral body of attempting to skew the final results in favor of APC’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

“We have credible information that the results are being altered to favor Monday Okpebholo, even though our candidate is on track for victory,” Iduoriyekemwen told journalists. “We will not accept this and we are prepared to challenge it.”

Shortly after addressing the media, the protesters were dispersed by police officers stationed at the INEC office. Heavy security remains in place at the location, where journalists and election observers await the official results.

At the time of this report, INEC had uploaded 97% of the election results on its Results Viewing (IReV) portal. Early analysis shows that the APC candidate is leading in Edo North Senatorial District, while the PDP candidate is ahead in Edo South.

The election involves 2,629,025 registered voters, with Edo South accounting for 55.76% of the electorate, followed by Edo North at 27.98% and Edo Central at 16.27%.