Timothy Omobude 
There was little drama at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin when Governor Godwin Obaseki was forced out of the premises by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Frank Mba at 4:10 am on Sunday. Obaseki had arrived unannounced around 2 am, allegedly to protest anomalies in the collation of results from local government areas, including his own Oredo.
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INEC officials reportedly informed Obaseki that he wasn’t supposed to be there, just like Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Asue Ighodalo, who was sent back earlier. However, Obaseki insisted on staying. At 3 am, a combined team of policemen and soldiers, led by DIG Mba, entered the premises, and by 4:10 am, Obaseki was escorted out.
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Moments before his exit, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary Surajudeen Basiru addressed journalists, stating that Obaseki had no reason to be at the INEC office, labeling his actions as an “abuse of office.”
Earlier, APC members, led by Honourable Dennis Idahosa, demanded Obaseki’s removal from the premises, chanting “Obaseki must come out” and claiming he had no business being there.
The protesters attempted to gain entry into the INEC office but were prevented from entering, despite repeatedly banging on the gate. This dramatic turn of events highlights the tensions surrounding the Edo State gubernatorial election .
