About 17 political parties are expected to participate in the Edo State gubernatorial election slated for September 21. It is a day that voters in the state will come out and elect a new governor for the state. While many political parties are squaring up for the exercise, the major contenders are the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the rival All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP). The candidates of these parties have campaigned vigorously across the local governments in the state.
Expectedly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the people of Edo State that it will conduct a free, fair and credible election on Saturday. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, revealed that the electoral body has released the funds needed for the conduct of the election to the state office. He also disclosed that the commission is not a political party, hence has no candidate in the contest but bent on delivering credible election. Mahmood pointed out that the responsibility of choosing the next governor of Edo State is entirely in the hands of Edo voters.
The INEC boss appealed to all registered voters in Edo State to come out to vote for the party of their choice and the candidate of their choice, assuring that the commission will protect the integrity of the process and uphold the choice made by the electorate. Nigerians expect INEC to conduct a free and fair election in Edo State. Anything short of that is unacceptable. In fact, there will be no room for excuses. INEC had failed Nigerians before. We don’t want a repeat. Let the electoral agency correct its past mistakes with the Edo election. Therefore, INEC should ensure that the votes really count. All eyes are on the commission to give Edo electorate a credible poll. INEC chairman should keep to his promise of maintaining a level-playing ground for the contestants. Let the electoral umpire remain the impartial umpire that the constitution envisages it to be.
Unfortunately, past elections in the country had been characterized by rigging, violence, manipulation of the voting process and other infractions. We want the Edo poll to be different. We call on the police and other security agencies to carry out their election duties with utmost patriotism and sincerity. Let them maintain the position of absolute neutrality before, during and after the poll. They must protect the voters and the ballots. The election must reflect the wishes of Edo people. There should be no interference or shoddiness in the exercise.
The Saturday poll in Edo is therefore a litmus test on INEC to prove that it is equal to the task. Being a stand- alone election, INEC has no reason to fail. There should be no margin for error in the contest.
The pledge of neutrality by the INEC Chairman is a welcome development. The voters do not expect anything lesser from him. Nigerians and the international community are looking up to INEC to do the right thing.
INEC should use the Edo poll to redeem its battered image arising from the shoddy conduct of the 2023 elections. Let the commission prove that it can really conduct a free and credible exercise with the Edo election.
The conduct of the election and its outcome will go a long way in rekindling the confidence of Nigerians in INEC or further erode its reputation.
The credible conduct of the poll requires the commitment and cooperation of the critical stakeholders in the state. We call on the political parties, the candidates and their supporters to play by the rule. They should eschew incendiary comments capable of causing breach of the peace. The election should not be a ‘do-or-die’ affair. The election does not worth the blood of any Edo indigene or resident.
Security agencies in the state should also do their work by ensuring that there is no breakdown of law and order. There is need for synergy among INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders to guard against ballot snatching, vote buying and other electoral offences. There should be no voter intimidation and suppression. Nothing should be allowed to compromise the Edo poll. INEC should ensure that the Edo poll is free, fair and credible.