Supporters of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday besieged the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Asaba, Delta State protesting the non-release of the just-conducted presidential election by the commission.
The protesters, led by the governorship flag bearer of the party in the state, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, were however barricaded by stern-looking conventional and unconventional security operatives at the commission’s gate.
The flag bearer, accompanied his party chieftains, accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aniedi Ikoiwak, of conniving with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to distort the results.
Emerhor said the action of the security agents, who were acting on the instructions dished out to them, have given credence to the fact that the results were actually being twisted, even as he wondered why the REC could not be reached.
Speaking to journalists at the party’s headquarters in Asaba, Emerhor said the protest was to register APC’s disdain against electoral malpractices and demand immediate release of the original results.
According to him, the plot of the ruling PDP to perpetuate itself in power to unleash another decade of barrenness on Nigeria has hit the rock with General Muhammadu Buhari’s overwhelming victory over President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said: “We are here for protest because as we speak, the results are being falsified. We have the results as released at the polling units, but they are withholding and falsifying them. We are going to INEC to demand why.”
Emerhor urged his supporters to remain calm while the extent of the fraud was being determined, even as he said the plot to use Edo and Delta States to scuttle Buhari’s victory would fail.