Two All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo, his Ekiti state counterpart, Abiodun Oyebanji, and the party’s national chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, have arrived in Edo carrying already signed result sheets and other sensitive voting materials ahead of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.
Interestingly, the governors arrived in the state with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ebonyi State, Onyea Pauline Ugochi, who is from Imo state.
According to reliable sources, the officials traveled by road from Owerri, Imo State, to Benin City on Wednesday afternoon, following an APC rally in Imo ahead of the local government elections in the southeast state.
The high-profile delegation was escorted by dozens of heavily armed policemen from the anti-kidnapping unit, known as Tiger Base, a special tactical unit within the police force.
The materials were reportedly transported in a police armoured vehicle and stashed at the private residence of former Edo State Governor and current Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole.
A source familiar with details of the trip said: “There’s no doubt this is a pre-planned operation aimed at rigging the election.
“Uzodimma has a history of using force in elections, as seen during the Imo governorship election last year. Now they want to replicate the same in Edo.”
The intention, according to insiders, is to use the pre-signed result sheets in conjunction with force at collation centres, replicating the electoral tactics that allegedly helped Uzodimma secure victory during the 2023 Imo State gubernatorial election.
Oshiomhole, a former APC national chairman is said to be playing a major role in orchestrating this plan.
The presence of the Ebonyi State REC, an official of INEC in the delegation of the APC chieftains, has also raised serious concerns about the independence of the electoral body.
With just hours to go before the crucial Edo State election, political analysts warn that the involvement of high-profile figures, coupled with the allegations of pre-signed results, points to a looming political crisis in the state.
The next 24 hours are expected to be critical as Edo State braces for a potentially volatile election fraught with accusations of manipulation, security interventions, and potential unrest.
The stage is set for what could be one of the most controversial elections in Edo State’s recent history.