In the current context of the contested post-election electoral inspection, Fatshimetrie finds itself at the centre of a political saga. Following the recent events surrounding the Edo state government elections, attention has been focused on the process of verifying the state’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) request for the inspection led to a tense standoff with representatives of the APC, heightening tensions at the Commission’s office. The APC delegation, led by Jarrett Tenebe, delayed the proceedings, causing unrest and chaos within the electoral body.
The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Anugbom Onuoha, had invited representatives of all political parties to attend the inspection, but the PDP contested the invitation, describing it as an attempt to “muddy the waters”. While a court order granted the PDP the right to inspect the BVAS machines, the REC’s statement opened the door for the APC to intervene.
Tensions reached fever pitch when Mrs Rita Amadi, the INEC legal officer, launched the inspection in line with the court order. Tenebe objected, demanding that the inspection begin with the voters’ register and ballot papers before the BVAS machines, leading to clashes between members of the APC and PDP.
An eyewitness reported that the police officers present at the scene did not intervene, allowing the situation to escalate. Tenebe then sought an adjournment until Thursday, citing the disappearance of his copy of the voters’ register. Despite reminders from the PDP legal team, Mrs Amadi granted the request, although the court order specified the inspection of the INEC register and not the party copies.
As the deadline for the PDP to file its petition approaches, Goodluck Osaretin has accused the APC of stalling tactics, denouncing an attempt to sabotage their case. He stressed that the PDP’s determination to act within the rules should not be mistaken for any weakness, saying such interference will not go unpunished.
The repercussions of these developments could affect not only the outcome of the election in question, but also the integrity of the electoral process as a whole. In an already politically tense climate, it is crucial that the transparency and legitimacy of the polls are preserved to ensure citizens’ confidence in democracy.