The All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for Benue South, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has alleged that the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, manipulated Saturday’s election results in the district.
As the results continue to trickle in, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Senator Abba Morro, is currently leading.
Onjeh, who issued a statement ahead of the official announcement of the result said: “Although I really hate to cry foul about an ongoing electoral process, especially one that I’m participating in; it seems to be the only honourable path to tow, for those of us who still desire to play clean politics.
“As the APC 2023 Senatorial Candidate for Benue South, I wish to use this medium to cry out to the world and to all whom it may concern; that 48 hours after voting had been concluded across most of the Polling Units of Benue South in last Saturday’s Senatorial Election, the INEC Returning Officers are yet to conclude collation of results at the various Polling Units.
“The Returning Officers are simply nowhere to be found. Election results are being unnecessarily delayed, and when they are eventually released, they show marked variations from the original data reported at the various Polling Units.
“Unfortunately, contrary to copious promises by the INEC, we are still unable to access the IReV Portal to ascertain our votes and determine the angle which we may channel our protest.
“However, we are reliably informed that the INEC Returning Officers are at an obscure location, busy altering the original results and also invalidating my votes in my strongholds by deliberately thumb-printing extra ballot papers and casting them into ballot boxes, with the intent to cause over-voting in those areas.
“It further beats my imagination that contrary to assurances by INEC, election results were not announced at every Polling Unit, and the INEC Returning Officers also did not bring the B-VAS machines from the Polling Units to the various Ward Collation Centers, to enable Party Agents verify the total number of valid voters at any Polling Unit.
“All the foregoing point to clandestine attempts to undermine the 2023 Senatorial Election in Benue South, despite the efforts of the President Buhari Administration to bequeath the nation with credible and transparent elections as his parting gift.
“We are still studying the situation, with a view to briefing our lawyers before deciding our next course of action. We promise to keep you posted. Thank you.”