Rita Amadi, the Head of Legal at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin City, has been accused of colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from reviewing the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
INEC
The revelation has ignited outrage across Edo State, with many calling into question the impartiality of the electoral body.
Sources within the INEC office have reported that Amadi has actively worked behind the scenes with APC officials to delay and obstruct PDP’s efforts to access the BVAS devices, a key tool used to ensure the transparency and accuracy of the election process.
The PDP’s access to these devices has been systematically hindered, raising concerns about the possibility of electoral manipulation in the just concluded election.
One INEC insider, who chose to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, stated: “It’s become clear that Rita Amadi is working in close collaboration with the APC.
“Every time PDP requests to review the BVAS data, there are unnecessary delays, excuses, and refusals from her office. This is a deliberate strategy to block the party’s right to conduct an independent audit after the election.”
The insider further revealed that despite multiple formal requests submitted to INEC for access to the BVAS, Amadi has either ignored them or responded with vague explanations, claiming technical difficulties or logistical constraints.
“This is not just incompetence—it’s sabotage. We are talking about a legal officer in the country’s electoral body willfully obstructing due process,” the source added.
In response to the growing uproar, civil society groups and election monitoring bodies are also demanding that INEC take immediate steps to ensure transparency.
With growing calls for accountability, the pressure is now on INEC to respond swiftly and ensure that the PDP is given fair access to electoral data.
