The Ekiti State governorship election has been engulfed in controversy after the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, was seen wearing an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observer vest during Saturday's poll. The incident has sparked widespread criticism from opposition parties and legal experts, who question the neutrality and independence of the electoral process.
Incident Details and Immediate Reactions
Images of Tenebe in an INEC-branded observer vest circulated widely on social media, prompting concerns about the impartiality of the election. The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) condemned the situation, stating that it had weakened public confidence in INEC. In a statement signed by its chairman, Dr Samson Isibor, and secretary, Nkama Waribe, the coalition described the incident as troubling and capable of reinforcing suspicions about the electoral commission's independence ahead of future elections. The group also declared a loss of confidence in the current leadership of INEC over its ability to guarantee fairness for all political parties.
Legal Experts Question Observer Accreditation
Constitutional lawyer Malachy Ugwommadu questioned the propriety of Tenebe's accreditation. He noted that as a former national president of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), he had observed elections across the country, but only as part of a non-governmental and non-partisan organization. Ugwommadu argued that a partisan political actor like a state party chairman should not serve as an observer, as he would have a biased vision. He called on INEC to explain the capacity in which Tenebe was accredited and the thresholds he passed to become an observer in a different state.
APC Defends Tenebe's Participation
The APC defended Tenebe's role, with Edo APC spokesman Uwadiae Igbinigie maintaining that no law was breached. He insisted that Tenebe acted within his rights as a Nigerian citizen, and that his participation as an observer was legitimate.
ADC Rejects Election Outcome
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) rejected the election result, alleging widespread irregularities including vote-buying, over-voting, intimidation, and alterations of results. Its candidate, Ambassador Dare Bejide, claimed that money was openly distributed around polling centres and that the conduct of some security personnel created a hostile atmosphere. Despite these objections, INEC declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji re-elected with 319,224 votes. The PDP candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, polled 40,543 votes, while Bejide received 12,872 votes.
Oyebanji's Victory and Reactions
Governor Oyebanji described his re-election as a renewed mandate to continue serving the people of Ekiti State. The APC celebrated the result, describing the victory as historic and noting that the governor had become the first incumbent in the state's modern democratic era to secure re-election. INEC's Chief Returning Officer, Professor Adenike Oladiji, confirmed the results early Sunday.
Broader Implications for Electoral Integrity
The controversy over Tenebe's observer vest has raised broader questions about INEC's accreditation processes and the integrity of elections in Nigeria. The CRPP's statement highlighted that such incidents could erode public trust in the electoral system, especially with future elections approaching. Legal experts and opposition parties continue to call for transparency and accountability from the electoral commission.
