INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna has criticised Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki and PDP governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo for visiting the state’s collation centre around 2:00 a.m.

Mr Haruna said in a statement on Sunday that the visits were uncalled for, adding that the electoral commission would ensure “no one” would “benefit from lawlessness.”

Political heavyweights like Messrs Obaseki Ighodalo separately stormed the state’s INEC headquarters early Sunday morning around 2:00 a.m. to protest alleged discrepancies in the voting and collation processes.

Mr Obaseki was the first person to arrive at the INEC office, and shortly after, Mr Ighodalo also showed up around 2:34 a.m., demanding access to the collation premises.

He said he was aware that Mr Obaseki was inside the INEC office and getting an audience with the Resident Electoral Commissioner. He wanted to do the same thing, but security officers denied him entry.

A joint team of police officers and military men marched Mr Obaseki out of the INEC office around 4:47 a.m., heightening tensions.

APC members had also gathered in front of the INEC headquarters to protest Mr Obaseki’s presence. APC national secretary Surajudeen Basiru argued that “he(Mr Obaseki) is not a candidate” and “has no reason to be here.”

The drama intensified when APC deputy governorship candidate Dennis Idahosa and his supporters arrived at the INEC office around 3:30 a.m. He demanded that Mr Obaseki be escorted out of the commission. 

However, Mr Haruna said the electoral umpire was worried by the politicians’ visits.

“We are similarly disturbed by the overnight presence and demonstrations by some political actors and their supporters at our state head office ahead of the commencement of final collation,” Mr Haruna said in a statement on Sunday.

He added, “These actions are uncalled for. Nobody should disrupt the process at any stage, and no one will be allowed to benefit from lawlessness.”