Over-Voting Scandal: PDP Demands Arrest of ‘Compromised’ Presiding Officer as INEC Pledges Thorough Investigation

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the arrest and prosecution of one Josephine Obozuwa, a presiding officer at the Osholo Primary School, Osholo polling unit in Weppa Ward, Etsako East local government area of Edo State for alleged compromise in a clear case of over-voting at the ongoing governorship election in the state.

With about 94 percent of results so far uploaded on the viewing portal IReV) of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Obozuwa had posted results that were at variance with available records.

The Independent National Electoral commission, INEC, however said it is investigating the matter, disclosing that this was the second complaint of over voting it would be receiving in respect of the ongoing election. The election umpire vowed to deal with any proven infraction.

From information gleaned from INEC’s portal, Obozuwa had at 4:06:09 pm Saturday evening, at her Osholo Primary School, Osholo polling unit with polling unit code 12/08/04/009 uploaded a result sheet indicating that 493 persons registered to vote, while only 213 persons were accredited. Curiously, Obozuwa credited the All-Progressives Congress, APC with 352 votes, 52 to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and one vote each to the Labour Party, LP, and the All-Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. When summed up, the total number of valid votes at the polling unit amounted to 406, whereas 213 persons were accredited, showing a case of over-voting.

Reacting to this development, the PDP, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described Obozuwa’s action as provocative, which it insisted must not go unpunished.

The statement reads: “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of an APC-compromised INEC Presiding Officer (PO) in the Edo State Governorship election, Obozuwa Josephine, for brazenly allocating non-existent votes to the All-Progressives Congress (APC).

“The election result sheet for Osholo Primary School Polling Unit, Weppa in Etsako East Local Government Area shows that whereas 213 voters were accredited, Obozuwa Josephine criminally and fraudulently allocated 352 votes to the APC, 52 to the PDP and one to the LP, giving a total of 406 as votes cast.

“It is highly provocative that the INEC PO Obozuwa Josephine could be so compromised by the APC to audaciously and feloniously allocate unearned 352 votes to the APC above the 213 voters officially accredited in that Polling Unit.

“This reckless act by Obozuwa Josephine is reminiscent of the criminal conduct of the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari, during the 2023 Governorship election in that State, which provoked violent protest by the people and nearly led to the loss of lives of INEC officials. Obozuwa Josephine should take note that this criminal action by her could provoke similar consequences.

“Our Party holds that Obozuwa Josephine’s action is one of the many cases of electoral fraud, ballot manipulation, betrayal of public trust and crime against the State perpetrated in this election by the APC and unscrupulous INEC officials which must not go unpunished.

“Nigerians can recall that the PDP had on several occasions alerted that the APC had compromised the INEC system by planting APC members as Polling Officers to manipulate the electoral process and alter results in favour of the APC.

“The PDP demands that INEC effects the immediate arrest and prosecution of the indicted Presiding Officer Obozuwa Josephine, cancel the election in Osholo Primary School Polling Unit and take steps to address other such infractions in this election.

“Our Party again commends the people of Edo State for their vigilance and urges them to remain resilient till the end”.

Responding accordingly, INEC, in a statement Saturday night, said “The Commission’s attention has been drawn to an allegation of wrong figures entered into polling unit result sheets in the ongoing Edo State Governorship election.

“This is the second complaint we have received out of the 4,519 polling units used for the election. The Commission will immediately investigate the matter and deal with any proven infraction”.