The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has scrutinised the September 21, governorship election in Edo State, and the verdict is unsavoury: “COMPROMISED BY DESIGN: The Fragile Integrity of INEC’s Technology” report.
The Athena Center, based in Abuja, Nigeria, is a research—and data-based think tank that promotes good governance and democratic leadership worldwide.
Osita Chidoka, the Chancellor of the Centre and a former Minister of Aviation, on Friday gave reporters a detailed explanation of the organization’s findings regarding the Edo election. The organization levelled allegations of compromise against the election umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Chidoka presented what he considers incontrovertible evidence of systemic rigging orchestrated by INEC in favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Questionable Election Results
According to Chidoka, the Athena Centre’s analysis of the election results revealed significant discrepancies. He claimed, for example, that while polling unit records showed 580,000 accredited voters, INEC’s backend inflated the figure to 687,000, adding more than 100,000 votes in 798 polling units.
Chidoka described this as evidence of backend tampering and a deliberate effort to manipulate the outcome. He also pointed to discrepancies between the certified true copies of polling unit results issued by INEC and those uploaded to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
The former minister alleged that INEC manipulated BVAS records and used duplicate result sheets to skew the election. He also highlighted that 11,665 votes were subtracted from the PDP’s tally during a ward collation, while 32,284 votes were added to the APC’s total.
“The evidence of systemic rigging is so substantial that we cannot even recognize this as a valid election,” Chidoka affirmed. He warned that allowing the flawed results to stand would set a dangerous precedent, making credible elections impossible in 2027.
Chidoka called for urgent reforms to address systemic flaws in Nigeria’s electoral process. He recommended auditing ballot papers before announcing results, transitioning to electronic voting, depoliticizing electoral appointments, and enacting stricter laws to punish electoral malpractice.
The former minister also criticized INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s leadership, joining other prominent voices in calling for his replacement.
They Will Cry In Vain – Gov. Okpebholo
But in a robust defense of his mandate, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who won the election, said those he described as “criminals” who lost the election would continue to cry foul because their rigging strategies failed.
“It is sad that the criminals are crying today that they have lost and will continue to lose. They are spending money day and night and wasting their money and will wait in vain.
“Edo people have spoken; they have chosen the path of development, peace, and unity. This is what Edo people have chosen, and that is how it will remain,” Okpebholo said.
The governor commended the people of Edo State for voting him into power and thanked President Bola Tinubu for standing firm for justice.
Allegations against INEC of compromising elections are all too common. Yet, defenders of the institution insist that for sore losers, INEC is corrupt when they lose but upright when they win elections.
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