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Edo: Political thugs allegedly prevent PDP officials from inspecting BVAS machine at INEC office
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of obstructing its efforts to carry out a court-ordered inspection of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin.
According to the PDP, when its officials arrived at the INEC office to comply with the court directive, they were met with fierce resistance, allegedly involving thuggery and police interference orchestrated by the APC.
The inspection of the BVAS machines was mandated following the PDP’s concerns over possible manipulation of voter accreditation during the election.
The party claims that the obstruction highlights ongoing efforts to undermine transparency in the electoral process, raising alarms about the integrity of the election results.
Speaking to journalists, a senior PDP official said: “We came here with a valid court order to inspect the BVAS machines, but APC thugs and police officers have surrounded the place and are not allowing us entry.
“This is a blatant disregard for the rule of law, and it raises serious concerns about the transparency of this election.
“The APC knows that their candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is unpopular and lacks the backing of the people. They are now resorting to force and intimidation to prevent us from ensuring that the election process is fair and credible.
“We are not asking for anything beyond what the law guarantees us—a free and fair election. By preventing us from inspecting the BVAS machines, the APC and their security enablers are sending a clear message that they have something to hide.”