The Nigerian Army intervened to stop thugs from hijacking INEC materials during the Edo election, ensuring the process remained secure. Learn more about the event.

Concerns about political thugs attempting to take over the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in several local government areas of the state were expressed by the Edo government on Friday.

Along with commending the Nigerian Army, the administration announced that the troops had made a concerted effort to take over the INEC office in the state capital’s Oredo Local administration Council.

The government is alerting Nigerians and the world community to the attempt by political goons to take over INEC Local Government Council offices throughout the state, according to Chris Nehikhare, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation for Edo State, who was speaking to reporters in Benin.

In an attempt to take control of the proceedings, he claimed that political goons had taken over the INEC offices in the local government councils of Oredo, Estako West, and Esan West.

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He said that once the thugs were driven away by the soldiers, they relocated across the street from the INEC building.

Nehikhare, who praised the military for its morality and discipline, claimed that the soldiers had successfully prevented the thugs from breaking into the INEC facility. Nehikhare also encouraged the military to take similar measures in the remaining 17 LGAs.

He noted that the acts of political thugs could not scare or deter the Edo People.

Nehikhare called on the people of Edo to gather in large numbers to carry out their franchise, stating that the military is at the top of its game to protect the people and INEC facilities and that soldiers had taken control of the Oredo INEC Secretariat.