The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has requested the immediate apprehension and trial of Obozuwa Josephine, the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) Presiding Officer in the Edo State 2024 Governorship election, for reportedly allocating imaginary votes to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It also requested the apprehension and trial of members of the rival All Progressives Congress (APC) involved in the reported electoral theft.

This was made known in a press release shared on the official X (formally Twitter) handle of the PDP on Saturday, September 21, 2024.

The party affirmed, “The election result sheet for Weppa in Etsako East Local Government Area, Osholo Primary School Polling Unit shows that whereas 213 voters were approved, Obozuwa Josephine illegally and deceptively assigned 352 votes to the APC, 52 to the PDP, and one to the LP, respectively, giving a total of 406 votes cast.

“It is shameful and illegal that the INEC Presiding Officer, Obozuwa Josephine, reportedly colluded with the APC to falsely add 352 votes to their tally, exceeding the 213 voters approved in that Polling Unit.

Obozuwa Josephine's alleged misconduct mirrors the unlawful actions of Mallam Hudu Ari, the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, during the 2023 governorship election in the state, which sparked violent protests and risked the lives of INEC officials.

Josephine should take note that her alleged misbehaviour could have serious repercussions, similar to those faced by Hudu Ari.

“Our Party believes that Obozuwa Josephine’s action is one of the many cases of electoral deception, ballot manipulation, betrayal of public trust, and offence against the state committed in this election by the APC and ruthless INEC officials, which must not go unpunished.

“Nigerians can recall the PDP's repeated warnings that the APC had rigged the INEC system by placing APC supporters as polling officers to manipulate elections and favour APC candidates."