Edo poll: INEC sacks print, online journalists from collation centre

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied journalists from print and online newspapers from entering the collation centre of the in Benin, the Edo state capital.

Journalists, who converged on the Ipoba Hill headquarters of INEC in Benin, were ushered out of one of the main halls at about 8:30pm.

Report according to TheCable said that a police officer handed a list to the armed operatives manning the centre, and directed them to deny entry to anyone whose name was not on the list.

Apart from journalists from television stations, only electoral observers, party agents, security personnel and INEC officials were allowed to go inside the hall.

A reporter with Radio Nigeria, who approached the security officials, was referred to a canopy in an open space within the compound.

The place is filled with mosquitoes, and some of the reporters left in protest.

No official of the commission addressed those affected on the reason why they were restricted from the hall.