Anxiety as heavy rains threaten conduct of Edo LG elections

By Jethro Ibileke

There is palpable anxiety in Edo as heavy rainfall has stalled the smooth conduct of the much awaited local government elections in the state scheduled for today.

There is fear that the rains which have been falling continuously for about three days could hinder a free and fair election.

Besides the rains, there are indications of apathy on the part of the electorate, resulting from poor governance and heavy financial burden of moving from one point to the other, as some might have to travel to their respective communities to cast their ballots.

In Benin city, the state capital, where most roads have become impassible, it is feared that the electorate could find that as an excuse to stay behind in their homes.

The situation remains the same in many parts of the state, where residents of those areas who spoke with our correspondent on the phone, are unwilling to take the pain to go out of the comfort of their houses “just to vote”.

A government official from Edo central who spoke to our correspondent early this morning on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the people of his community appear to have lost interest in elections generally, because of poor government representation in their rural areas.

“To be honest with you, the rains are a big setback to the council elections. Besides, the people of my community seem to have lost interest in elections generally, and you can’t blame them.

“Government presence in those rural communities are not just there. To convince them to go out of their houses in this heavy rain to vote may not be that easy,” he said.

Another top politician from Edo south told our correspondent late Friday night that he may not be able to go back to his village again to mobilize the party superstars.

He said: “I have done my best for the party. I just returned from my community. The roads are very bad, I am not sure I will be able to travel back tomorrow for the elections. I will have to monitor the elections on the phone.”

As at the time of filing this report, the rains are yet to abate in many parts of the state.

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