The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing intense backlash on social media after reports surfaced that lawyers representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were harassed and prevented from inspecting the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used in the recent Edo governorship election.
The perpetrators of the obstruction are said to be thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC), raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
The inspection of BVAS machines is a critical part of the legal process as the PDP challenges the results of the election, which saw the APC candidate declared the winner.
Despite initial assurances from INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha, that all political parties would be given access to the election materials, PDP lawyers have been reportedly blocked from conducting a thorough inspection.
The news of the incident spread rapidly across social media platforms, with Nigerians and political commentators alike expressing outrage at the perceived interference with the legal process.
The hashtag #BVASInspectionNow quickly began trending on Twitter, as users demanded transparency from INEC and condemned the alleged intimidation tactics used to prevent the PDP from gathering crucial evidence for their case.
“Why is INEC silent as thugs disrupt the legal process? Democracy demands transparency! #BVASInspectionNow,” one user tweeted.
Another tweet read: “If INEC can’t guarantee access to BVAS inspection, how can we trust the results? #BVASInspectionNow.”
Public commentators and political analysts have also weighed in, questioning INEC’s ability to conduct free and fair elections.
“INEC’s credibility is on the line. The refusal to ensure a proper inspection of BVAS machines damages public trust in the electoral process. #BVASInspectionNow,” said political analyst Dr. Uche Maduka.
The harassment of the PDP legal team comes on the heels of weeks of political tension in Edo State, where the results of the governorship election have been hotly contested.
The PDP alleged that there were irregularities in the voting process, including voter suppression, manipulation of results, and other forms of electoral malpractice.
The party has filed a petition calling for a review of the election, citing the need to inspect the BVAS machines as part of their evidence-gathering efforts.