No Excuse To Declare Edo Election Inconclusive, CSOs Tell INEC

The Civil society organisations under the aegis of Nigerian Humanitarian Association, has warned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, officials of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other security agencies not to declare the Edo state governorship election inconclusive.

A statement by the Director-General of NHA, Igwekala Leo Ugomaduefule and Secretary, Hajiya Amina Umar in Abuja on Sunday, expressed concern over the conduct of the rescheduled exercise, given the circumstances that surrounded the earlier shift.

The NHA said, “The Federal Government, through the security agencies, should provide adequate security before, during and after the election. As mentioned earlier, Edo State is a peaceful state and has not witnessed election violence over the years. We appeal to the electorate in the state to conduct themselves in a peaceful and matured manner to forestall any situation that might create room for INEC to declare the election as inconclusive.”

The organisation also faulted the extension of the exercise earlier slated for September 10, saying the reasons adduced by the managers of the poll were not tenable, given that Edo State has not been under security threat.

The association, particularly advised security agencies to ensure that hoodlums from the neighbouring states do not infiltrate Edo state to cause confusion on election day.

The NHA said, “Sincerely, we wish to express our concern over the peaceful conduct of the rescheduled governorship election in Edo State slated for September 28, 2016. Our concern emanated from the circumstances surrounding its postponement.

“Nigerians know very well that Bayelsa State and the North-East region where elections were held peacefully in the past without any problem, have more serious security challenges compared to Edo which has never witnessed any security threat and where neither militants nor insurgents operate. We are therefore, at a loss as to the reason(s) behind the call for the postponement of the election.”

While calling on INEC to play the role of an impartial umpire, the group implored the security.