The Edo State All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman, Jeret Tenebe, attempted to vote at polling unit 6 in Ikabigbo without a valid voter’s card during the ongoing gubernatorial election. His efforts were thwarted by voters who insisted on proper identification, preventing him from casting his vote.
A video circulating on X depicted the confrontation, which resulted in chaos at the polling unit, highlighting ongoing tensions regarding vote-buying and voter identification in parts of Edo State.
YIAGA, a socio-political organization, had earlier reported incidents of vote buying by party agents who were seen bribing voters with N10,000 each in some areas its election monitoring team covered, including Ikpoba/Okha, Igueben, Esan West, Akoko Edo, Owan West, and Uhunmodi local government areas. The that party agents were seen allegedly distributing cash gifts to voters.
Without the official stamp, party agents for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were observed allegedly distributing cash gifts (N10,000) at the Enikaro Primary School IX Polling Unit (12-11-07-009) in the Ugbekun ward, Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area.
Additionally, the accreditation and voting process was halted at the Ikpoba, Army Children XI polling unit in the Iwogban/Uteh Ward, Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area due to the arrival of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials without the official stamp.
An altercation between APC and PDP supporters over alleged bribery led to the suspension of voting and the destruction of the voting cubicle at the Ebua Market Square in the Uhunwode Local Government Area. Political thugs also disrupted the voting process at the Anyaran Araromi Primary School in the Akoko Edo Local Government Area.
