Compromised officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State have hurriedly uploaded doctored election results onto the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
The news comes hours after reports from the state indicated that Senator Adams Oshiomhole stormed the INEC office with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experts.
Also, Rita Amadi, head of INEC’s legal department in Benin, has been fingered as the arrowhead of the plot to upturn the results on the portal.
The move has sparked outrage across the state, with concerned citizens and political leaders raising alarms over the actions of the INEC officials.
A concerned INEC official who revealed the situation to journalists in Edo State, but chose to remain anonymous, said: “This is an outright violation of the people’s will. Edo INEC has just uploaded yet another doctored result on the IReV portal. We cannot sit idly by while democracy is being hijacked in broad daylight.”
Many residents of the state have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction, warning that such fraudulent actions could undermine the peace and stability of the state.
Another INEC official said:”This is an attack on the very fabric of democracy in Edo State. the mandate of the people is about to be stolen through doctored results.”
A spokesperson for the PDP added:”We are calling on all well-meaning Edolites, PDP leaders across Edo State, and indeed all Nigerians, to stand together against this manipulation. INEC must immediately rectify this grave injustice and ensure that only authentic, verified results are uploaded to the IReV platform.”
INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal was introduced to promote transparency by allowing real-time viewing of election results.
However, the current allegations have cast a shadow over the credibility of the system, with many questioning whether it is being used to subvert the electoral will of the people rather than safeguard it.
For now, political tension is rising in the state, and all eyes are now on the electoral body to provide clarity on the situation.