The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using thuggery and police interference to block the party from carrying out a court-ordered inspection of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin.
According to the PDP, party officials who arrived at the INEC office to inspect the BVAS machines in line with a court directive were met with fierce resistance.
The inspection was ordered following concerns raised by the PDP about potential manipulation of voter accreditation processes during the election.
Speaking to journalists, a senior PDP official said: “We came here with a valid court order to inspect the BVAS machines, but APC thugs and police officers have surrounded the place and are not allowing us entry.
“This is a blatant disregard for the rule of law, and it raises serious concerns about the transparency of this election.
“The APC knows that their candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is unpopular and lacks the backing of the people. They are now resorting to force and intimidation to prevent us from ensuring that the election process is fair and credible.
“We are not asking for anything beyond what the law guarantees us—a free and fair election. By preventing us from inspecting the BVAS machines, the APC and their security enablers are sending a clear message that they have something to hide.”
