Edo 2024: Gov Election Will Reflect People’s Choice – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that the outcome of the September 21 governorship election would be a reflection of the people’s choice.

The Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu gave this assurance at a stakeholders meeting in Benin City on Friday.

Meanwhile, the crisis in the Labour Party (LP) surfaced at the meeting as two people, Kelly Ogaloi and Hon (Mrs) Elizabeth introduced themselves separately as the chairman of the party.

The meeting had leaders of various political parties including heads of various security agencies including the police, Army, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in attendance.

Yakubu did not yield to the call in some quarters that the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) be extended from the 10 days allocated to it even as he said that the daily reports from the exercise showed that majority of those registering were young people mostly students thereby dispelling claims that the outcome of the 2023 election was disillusioning young people from participating in elections and assured the people of Edo State that the election would be credible.

He said “The 2023 election was the most open election in the history of Nigeria, the most with diverse outcome, political parties that were least expected to win elections, won elections because of the proactive actions of the Commission.

“In February, we conducted state assembly elections, APGA won seats in a south-south state and three months after, local government election was conducted the same party did not win a single seat.

“We have deployed technology in every election circle to improve on the previous one. Today with BIVAS which is no longer the card reader, we are sure that 98 percent of people who will vote in any election are eligible voters and must be accredited and nobody can be disenfranchised, that was an improvement in the card reader. We have 98 percent successful accreditation with BIVAS.”

Yakubu who assured all parties in the election of a level-playing field during the election and urged them to play the game by the rule, in order to ensure peaceful election in the state.

He however condemned the reported shootings during the on-going CVR in Oredo ward 4, Egor and other centres in the state.

Professor Yakubu said that such shootings were uncalled for noting that “it is only the people that have the right to decide who govern them, therefore, their rights must be well protected and they should not be prevented from doing so.”

Earlier the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Anugbum Onuoha said “This meeting was called because of the happenings especially on security matters.

“Some of the centres have been affected by shootings, like Oredo ward 4, Egor and many other local governments.

“Some of our staff have been affected by these shootings. So, it is important that we interact with these security agencies and see how we can prefer solutions.”