INEC Fires Two Electoral Officers In Benin As Ex-Governor Osunbor Defects To APC

SAN FRANCISCO, April 07, (THEWILL)  – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sacked two electoral officers in Benin City, Edo State, following their complicity in the disappearance of election result sheets and electoral fraud in Oredo and Orhiomwon Local Government Areas during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

INEC's Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, announced the development on Tuesday during a meeting with officials of the two main political parties — All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, at INEC's Benin office.

“Some INEC officials are being interrogated over alleged malpractices in the last elections. Two electoral officers have been relieved of duty and may be prosecuted…”Igini said, adding that fresh elections will be conducted in Orhiomwon Local Government Area, six wards in Uhumwode; several wards and units in Ikpoba Okha; Ovia North-East; Ovia South-West and Oredo local government areas.

Igini said a winner will emerge in Edo South Senatorial poll only after the elections have been concluded.

“After a meeting with the INEC Chairman in Abuja, it was decided that elections will be conducted in those areas where voting didn't happen because of late arrival of voting materials and disappearance of result sheets.”

Meanwhile, a former governor of Edo State, Professor Osarhiemen Osunbor, Tuesday defected from the PDP to the APC.

Osunbor governed the state on the platform of the PDP for six months before a court sacked him and returned current Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The former governor announced his defection alongside his supporters at Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government Area of the state. They were received by Governor Oshiomhole.