By Vincent Kalu
The South-East South-South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to redeem its image with the Edo State governorship election after its poor conduct of the 2023 elections.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Lagos, President of the group, Hannibal Uwaifo, noted that the misconduct of the electoral umpire, some unscrupulous politicians and their cronies during the 2023 elections are still fresh in the minds of the people. He therefore called on INEC to redeem its image by conducting a very transparent election in Edo State where the votes of the people will count.
According to him, “the SESSPN has taken notice of the unfortunate statements of President Bola Tinubu about giving Edo State to his party. The videos of the president seen with his party supporters boasting about giving Edo State back to his party is sad and has already sent tongues wagging about the intentions of the president considering the massive rigging and manipulations that took place during the 2023 General Elections.
“We believe that INEC as an independent body must hold its grounds and conduct a transparent election where the votes of the People counts.”
The SESSPN said, the group is gravely concerned about the past and recent happenings in Nigeria, describing the state of the nation as very ‘worrisome.’ It noted that, the hunger and poverty in the land mostly occasioned by some misguided policies of this present administration and the flippant statements and actions of some of her officials are unfortunate.
The SESSPN also expressed serious concern over what it described as police siege on the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
It condemned the unilateral actions of the Nigerian Police Force purportedly, noting that the action of the Nigerian Police has the effect of preventing all the workers in the 23 LGAs from accessing their offices and rendering their legitimate duties.