APC and PDP Clash Over Alleged Plans to Manipulate Edo Voter Registration

Ahead of the commencement of continuous voter registration on Monday, May 27, 2024, for the off-cycle governorship election in Edo State, the state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have engaged in a heated exchange over alleged plans to manipulate the exercise.

At a press briefing in Benin City on Friday, the APC accused the Edo State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding with the PDP to manipulate the voter registration process in favor of the latter.

Edo APC Publicity Secretary Peter Uwadiae alleged that the PDP intends to use the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) to rig the 2024 governorship election.

“We have on good authority and from multiple sources that some gullible officials of INEC in most of the 18 local government areas have approached the outgoing Edo State government to provide them with ‘logistics’ for the CVR,” Uwadiae stated.

He further accused these INEC officials of promising the PDP unfettered access to INEC data capturing machines and making frivolous complaints to Governor Godwin Obaseki to undermine the institution’s mandate.

Uwadiae also claimed that Governor Obaseki plans to deploy Edo teachers, civil servants, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members as ad hoc staff, with promises to bankroll their stipends.

He alleged that this compromise of INEC is part of a broader plan for local government chairmen to manipulate the CVR in their areas and suggested that underage voters’ cards would be redistributed to hired individuals from Delta State to cause trouble on election day.

Furthermore, Uwadiae demanded the immediate redeployment of INEC’s Head of ICT in Edo State, alleging a close working relationship with a female INEC staff member in Bayelsa State who is married to a PDP chieftain in Edo.

He also called for adherence to INEC-designated CVR venues and restrictions on voter transfers from neighboring states.

In response, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation Chris Nehikhare dismissed the APC’s allegations, stating they indicated the party’s unpreparedness for the election.

“Instead of admitting their failure, they are busy making allegations against an unbiased umpire,” Nehikhare said, asserting that the PDP and state government have no involvement in manipulating the CVR but are focused on encouraging Edo people to register.

Timidi Wariowei, INEC’s Head of Voters’ Education in Edo, criticized the APC’s approach of making public allegations without prior complaints. “Last week, we held a stakeholders’ meeting and APC was represented.

They didn’t say anything,” Wariowei noted, advising that any grievances should be formally petitioned to the commission, which remains open to addressing any complaints.

The stakeholders’ meeting marked the first significant gathering since the 2023 polls, reflecting ongoing tensions and preparations ahead of the 2024 governorship election.