Police Escort Obaseki Out of INEC Office Amid Protests

Nigeria’s outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki was forced to leave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin, Edo State, amid protests from All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters. The governor had arrived unannounced around 2 am to protest anomalies in the collation of results from local government areas, including his Oredo.

INEC officials reportedly told Obaseki he wasn’t supposed to be there, just like Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Asue Ighodalo, who was sent back earlier. However, Obaseki insisted on staying.

Around 3 am, a combined team of police and soldiers led by Deputy Inspector General Frank Mbah arrived, and by 4:10 am, Obaseki was escorted out. APC National Secretary Surajudeen Basiru stated that Obaseki had no reason to be there, calling it an abuse of office.

The incident occurred amid allegations that APC thugs planned to attack the collation center and alter results.

As the collation continues, 98.23% of results from polling units have been uploaded, narrowing the governorship race between APC and PDP.