Reports have surfaced of electoral malpractice by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osholo Primary School, Weppa Ward, Etsako East Local Government Area.
According to verified reports, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accredited 213 voters out of the 493 registered voters at the polling unit, yet an astonishing 406 votes were recorded during the collation process, nearly double the accredited number.
This blatant discrepancy has raised serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process in the area, with accusations that the APC is involved in large-scale rigging.
Election observers and residents in the community have expressed outrage, calling the results “APC magic.”
One election observer present at the scene, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, stated:
“It’s baffling. INEC officials clearly announced that 213 people were accredited, but by the time they finished counting, we suddenly had 406 votes. This is impossible. It’s clear that APC has manipulated the results.”
Another witness, a local youth leader in Weppa Ward, said:
“The APC doesn’t believe in free and fair elections; they only believe in rigging. Everyone here knows what happened today was fraud. We can’t let this slide.”
The news of the alleged electoral fraud has quickly gone viral, sparking a wave of anger on social media.
Residents, activists, and political commentators have taken to platforms like Twitter and Facebook to express their disbelief and frustration.
A Twitter user, @Justice4Edo, shared the following:
“How can INEC accredit 213 voters and then have 406 votes? APC is trying to steal this election. Weppa Ward is a mess. INEC, do your job!”
Another user, @EdoEye, tweeted:
“APC magic in action! INEC accredited 213, yet APC somehow found 406 votes. This is the kind of fraud they rely on to stay in power.”
Several posts have also tagged INEC’s official handles, calling on the commission to cancel the results from Osholo Primary School and launch an investigation into the discrepancies.
An independent election monitoring group in Edo, Edo Voters Transparency Movement, has called on INEC to address the issue promptly.
The group’s coordinator, Mrs. Cynthia Omoregie, said: “This level of manipulation cannot be overlooked. If the official records show 213 accredited voters, then how do we explain 406 votes? This is a mockery of democracy, and INEC must take swift action.”
This incident is just one of many allegations of irregularities that have marred the Edo governorship election.
Reports of voter suppression, intimidation, and ballot box snatching have also surfaced in various parts of the state, particularly in areas where the APC is seeking to gain a strong foothold.