Elaigwu, representing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Agatu Local Government Area (LGA), alleged massive irregularities, particularly regarding the role of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC).
Mrs Azumi Elaigwu, a female chairmanship candidate in Benue State’s Saturday local government elections, has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the conduct of the polls.
In an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, Elaigwu stated, "As far as I am concerned, there were no local government elections in Benue state."
Elaigwu, representing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Agatu Local Government Area (LGA), alleged massive irregularities, particularly regarding the role of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC).
Despite paying N900,000 for both nomination and submission forms, she recounted that Governor Hycient Alia had previously assured credible elections.
She described the election as a "most blatant disregard for the electoral process," asserting that her mandate was stolen in broad daylight.
"The election in Agatu LGA, for example, was anything but credible," Elaigwu said.
She highlighted instances of missing ballot boxes in polling units such as Odugbeho, Enungba, and Oshugudu, and the snatching of ballot boxes by thugs in Usha and Okokolo wards.
The APGA candidate explained that despite her initial lead, the BSIEC Returning Officer hastily declared the APC candidate the winner without any proper collation of results. "A winner was announced in a closed-door meeting around past 3pm when less than 30% of the results had arrived at the collation center," Elaigwu revealed.
She further explained how she was denied entry into a meeting where the APC candidate was declared the winner. "I walked into the room just as the Electoral Officer was raising the hands of the APC candidate and declaring him the winner after a 'successful' election," she added.
Elaigwu questioned the rationale behind the governor’s promise of an election, "if this was going to be the people’s experience? Why did BSIEC ridiculously charge for forms and vetting exercises if they were not going to take the trouble to count the votes?"
Mrs. Justina Ali, the APGA vice chairmanship candidate, also spoke of election fraud in Usha Ward, noting that elections took place in only two out of the 17 polling units.
She recounted how they found Elaigwu demanding access to a meeting where the APC candidate was being declared the winner without the proper addition of results.
Observers like Mr. Hamidu Aminu and Mr. Baba Akubo confirmed the absence of ballot boxes in several units, including Old Market 13.
They called on Governor Alia to ensure that the will of the people prevailed and urged international bodies like UN Women to intervene in defence of democracy in Nigeria.