Poll shift won’t affect Edo guber – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the people of Edo State that the shift of the governorship election from September 10 to September 28, would not have a negative effect on the poll.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Mr. Sam Olumekun, gave the assurance in Benin on Thursday, at a Stakeholders’ meeting on the election, organised by the Commission in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency.
He disclosed that the Commission was ready and willing to conduct free, fair, credible and conclusive election for Edo people.
The REC, however, noted that officials of INEC alone cannot achieved this, stressing that everybody has a role to playing achieving a conclusive election. He appealed to all the security agencies to deploy their men early enough to man their duty post.
In his speech, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5, in Benin, Mr Isaac Eke, assured that the security agencies would do everything humanly possible to give protection to the people during and after the election, adding that the 19 political parties participating in the election would be given a level-playing ground during the electoral process.
On his part, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, Mr Haliru Gwandu, appealed to political parties and their supporters to eschew violence and intimidation of electoral officials and ad-hoc staff who’s primary duty is to conduct elections.
He urged the people to stop seeing election as a do-or-die affair, adding that those who want to invite thugs from neighbouring states should shun that act as security men are on ground.
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