Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State was forcibly removed from the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin in the early hours of Sunday, following an intervention led by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Frank Mba.
Obaseki arrived at the INEC office just after 2am, but his presence soon sparked controversy. Protesters, led by Dennis Idahosa, the running mate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, arrived at around 3:30am to demand the governor’s removal from the premises. Tensions escalated as police officers stationed at the scene shouted at the governor, ordering him to “leave, leave.”
In a dramatic turn of events, Obaseki was eventually escorted out by a contingent of mobile policemen, with DIG Mba personally overseeing his exit. Speaking to journalists shortly before the ejection, APC National Secretary Surajudeen Basiru criticised Obaseki’s presence, stating, “He is not a candidate. He has no reason to be here,” and accusing the governor of abusing his office.
Reports indicate that Obaseki had entered the INEC compound under the cover of darkness and positioned himself near the office of the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, where election results were being collated. Protesters repeatedly attempted to force their way into the premises but were blocked by security personnel, even as tensions simmered throughout the night.
The removal of Obaseki marks yet another episode in the fraught political landscape of Edo State, with both sides of the divide accusing each other of underhand tactics as the electoral process unfolds.
