Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated it’s resolve to conduct the Edo governorship election as scheduled, irrespective of the drumbeats of war emanating from the state.
INEC stated that it is fully prepared to conduct the elections despite the tension, accusations and counter accusations from political actors, particularly in the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party
The commission also reiterated that “plans have been concluded for all the 14 political parties participating in the election to sign a peace accord in the coming days, adding that with all the efforts, it is our hope that the election will be held peacefully.”
INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made the remark through his chief press secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, at the webinar on Edo/Ondo elections organised by the International Press Centre (IPC).
“All the logistics needed for the election have been taken care of,”
“Non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the 18 local government areas of the state. Our electoral officers, their assistants and supervisory presiding officers have been trained. Officers nominated by the various security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) have also been trained and their actions will be guided by the code of conduct and rules of engagement for security personnel on electoral duty.
“To that extent, regardless of the not-so-pleasant experiences journalists might have experienced with security agents during elections in the past, they are rest assured of a good experience this time round.
“The new Policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic and our Regulations and Guidelines will also apply. A portal has been provided on the INEC website for journalists who wish to cover the Edo governorship election to apply online for accreditation”, he stated.
On proactive measures taken by the Commission to address security concerns, the INEC chairman said consultations with the ICCES are on-going.
He disclosed that the INEC chairman recently led a delegation of INEC top officials to meet with the revered Oba of Benin to solicit his intervention and appeal to political actors to allow for a peaceful election.
“The respected monarch had promised to invite them to his palace for interaction and he has already done so,” he added.
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