The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for not allowing Journalists to gain access to the collation centres for the Edo governorship election.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, made this known in a statement on Thursday.
It reads: “As part of plans to manipulate the results of the Edo State gubernatorial election, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in tandem with security agents are denying journalists access to the INEC Collation Centre in Benin City.
“This action is a manifestation of the plots hatched by the All Progressives’ Congress, APC, to manipulate the election results about which we have raised alarm several times.
“Furthermore, this action demonstrates the contempt and disdain which the ruling APC, has for the media, which is the fourth pillar of democracy.
“We call on INEC and the relevant security agencies to reverse this ill-advised decision and to grant journalists access to the INEC Collation Centre to enable them carry out their professional duties of monitoring the elections.
“We urge Nigerians to counsel INEC, APC and the relevant security agencies to desist from further perpetuating actions capable of derailing law and order in the State.”
The collation of the results for the Election was suspended by INEC. Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Sam Olumekun, confirmed that the collation of the results would resume on Thursday.
