The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has directed police officers from the tactical squad and intelligence unit deployed for duties during the Edo State governorship election to remain in the state.
Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress polled 291,667 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party’s Asue Ighodalo, who came second with 247,274 votes, and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who emerged third with 22,763 votes.
The outcome of the election conducted on September 21 had been widely rejected by candidates and several election monitoring organizations.
However, in a statement on Wednesday by the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, the IG said the special squads would remain in the state until further notice.
The statement read in part, “The Inspector-General of Police assures members of the public of steadfastness in the commitment of the Nigeria Police to ensuring the safety and security of the people of Nigeria
“The IGP has, therefore, directed tactical squads and intelligence contingents to remain in the state to continue to fortify security measures until further notice. This proactive measure aims to maintain stability and public safety throughout the state.”
Egbetokun also said those arrested for electoral offences during the election would be prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, adding that the police would try those apprehended for criminal offences.
He said, “All arrested persons for electoral offences will be prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission while those arrested for other criminal offences will be arraigned before the court on completion of investigations.
“The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting democracy and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria. We will continue to strive for excellence in our duties, upholding the principles of fairness, justice, and accountability.”
Meanwhile, the media team of Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council has blamed INEC police for the defeat of the PDP candidate in the election.
The team noted that the two state actors’ action was a rape on democracy, noting they both colluded to subvert the will of Edo people.
“It seems the President wants a one party state. The APC captured the INEC and the police,” the team head, Olu Martin, said. “We were already jubilating because by the time the result of the election got to 95 per cent on IREV, you know whether you have won or not and even if the remaining five percent voted for APC, we would have won the election with over 45,000 votes.
“But when we got to the collation centre, things changed as the police said they were on a mission and that whoever that couldn’t stomach it should leave.
“We hold the President (Tinubu) responsible for the sham that happened in Edo because he said he would give Edo back to APC and he backed it with ‘I am the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’ The police did what they did in the defence of the President statement.”
Martin, who is also the Deputy Director-General of the campaign council, added, “For us, in spite of what INEC announced, the governorship election contest was not between the PDP and the APC, who has now been announced winner.
“The contest is between the PDP and the police and INEC, the two of them colluded to rape democracy and declared whom they have declared the winner.
“How do you explain it that the whole world followed and saw the result on the IREV. If they wanted it to end that way, they shouldn’t have introduced the IREV.”
Twenty-five observer groups on Wednesday said last Saturday’s election as fell short of expectations, claiming that collation of results at some levels did not comply with the Electoral Act 2022.
They said they were satisfied with the more than 4,500 polling units result and some wards but rejected the collation of wards and LGs’ results in INEC office in Benin City, which they said was contrary to the law.
A statement on Wednesday by Rose Akhigbe, Peter Nwokolo, Anyasor Gabriel and Sunny Elekwa, on behalf of the observer groups, read in part, “We reject the result declared because there are two sets of result sheets. One was taken to the field and another one to APC in Edo North, some parts of Edo South and Edo Central.
“We observed that the military and police disrupted collation of results at the wards and local governments collation centres, including intimidation of INEC officials that collated results contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines. There is significant concern about the credibility of the results collation process.
“We totally reject the result of the election which declared the All Progressive Congress candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo as governor. There was militarisation and use of impunity at wards, local governments and state collation centres.
“INEC, military and police have clearly violated the provision of Electoral Act 2022 concerning the collation of results in governorship election. Results were only collated at units and some wards.”
Also, the British High Commission in Nigeria has called on parties involved in disputes arising from the governorship election to pursue resolution through legal channels in good faith.
In a statement on Wednesday, the commission noted that the election was largely peaceful and encouraged calm following the announcement of the results.
“The UK calls for continued calm following the announcement of the result. Electoral and legal processes exist to address any challenges or disputes, and we encourage the authorities, including INEC, to examine all concerns transparently and in good faith,” the statement read in part.
The commission also reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria and said it would closely monitor the post-election developments in Edo.
“The UK remains committed to supporting fair and credible elections in Nigeria and will continue to follow the situation in Edo carefully,” it added.
