Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has explained his presence at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation centre in Benin City earlier today.

The governor was at the INEC premises in the early hours of Sunday, around 2 am, and was later escorted out by police officers led by Deputy Inspector General Frank Mba. The All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Monday Okpebholo’s running mate, Dennis Idahosa, protested around 3:30 am, demanding the governor’s exit from the INEC premises.

Before Obaseki was escorted out, the APC National Secretary, Surajudeen Basiru, addressed journalists, questioning the governor's presence at the site. Obaseki later clarified that he went to the INEC office after receiving reports that collation had been stopped and that agents from his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were not being allowed into the collation centre. He sought to meet with the Resident Electoral Commissioner to understand the situation and ensure the collation process continued.