Politics
Stubborn INEC insists Edo election holds Saturday, Sept. 10
The Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) says it will go ahead with Saturday’s, September 10, Edo State governorship election against security reports that the exercise be postponed.
The commission stated this on Thursday morning after consultation with security agencies and a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin, the Edo State capital.
Speaking after the meeting, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state, Mr. Sam Olumekun, declared that the commission could not shift the exercise based on what he described as unclear security reports.
According to him, the commission is 99% prepared to conduct the election, adding, that it would be a very expensive venture to demobilise the facilities and other logistics already put in place for the poll.
Read also: Uncertainty trails conduct of Edo guber poll as INEC awaits briefing by DSS, Police
He explained that INEC had weighed all parameters and consequences, and decided it would go ahead with the poll.
The Police and Department of State Security Services had recommended a shift in the date of the election, over what they said were intelligence reports showing that militants and terrorists were planning to attack the state.
Students undergoing the GCE examinations had also protested that the date of the election will disenfranchise them from the exercise, and disrupt their exams.
Olumekun however said that, having weighed the parameter and consequences of holding the Edo election on that date, it would not shift it.
He also stated that the commission would not mortgage its independence, while also assuring that it would not be teleguided into taking any decision on the exercise.
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