Stakeholders, and comrades of Edo Civil Society Organisations present, you are all highly appreciated.
We the coalition mentioned earlier of civil rights groups in Edo state with huge membership strength within Edo state and in the Diaspora, having our structures in the 18 local government councils and several communities in the state have deemed it necessary to issue statements in regards to the forthcoming governorship election that is slated to hold on the 21st of September, 2024.
As a critical stakeholder in Edo state and the collective voice of the masses, it will be a disservice to the society and our state, if we fail or refuse to lend our voices to the events leading to the forthcoming election of a governor that will be in charge of our affairs in the next four years.
First, we want to commend all the political parties for presenting what they perceived as their best for the election through primary electioneering processes, however, in some cases, it was manipulated against the will of members of the party, while some candidates emerged not without skirmishes along the line, that duly observed and added to the history books and put behind now,
We shall look through some pertinent issues as a civil rights coalition towards a successful, credible, fair and free election in our dear Edo state.
*PARTY PRIMARIES*
We observed that political parties’ primaries have yet to be properly structured to reduce incidents of post-primary litigation and media warfare. The internal conflict resolution mechanism in political parties has not been effective. While it is generally agreed that, primaries are internal affairs of political parties, it is also important for political parties to understand that the outcome and who it throws up as a candidate at the end of the day has a long-lasting impact on the general society.
*PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE*
Edo state has relatively enjoyed peace, save in isolated cases of communal crisis and cult-related killings. In the last presidential election, very low incident of violence was recorded in Edo state. The local government elections came with some records of higher violence due to its grassroots nature and the intent of the ruling party to take it all by force which is prevalent in local government council elections across the country.
Worthy of mention in the forthcoming election is the incident that happened in the Benin airport on July 18th, 2024 involving the governorship candidate of the APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu who came to Benin to enforce a purported court ruling reinstating him as the deputy governor. It was an unfortunate situation that saw to the death of one Inspector Akor Onu an orderly attached to Senator Monday Okpebholo.
We use this medium to urge the Nigeria Police force to carry out discreet and unbias investigation on the matter to prove for once that the life of an ordinary Nigerian person is valuable.
There have been disturbing reports of violence in some parts of the state, political parties’ intolerance of each other. Physical attacks, destruction of campaign materials and personal properties have been reported as regular occurrence.
We have also received credible reports of violence in some voters’ card collection centres where armed thugs harassed, threatened and chased away voters they can’t confirm their political party’s loyalty.
The incidents of collection of voter’s card by proxies or by political party’s agents have become a common practice with the assured conspiracy of INEC officials, while security agencies look the other way to the helplessness of patriotic citizens with genuine voting intentions.
Most very recently is the violent attack at Uhunmora in Owan west local government area where a young man beaten to a pulp and left in his pool of blood to die by a gang of political opponents
*CAMPAIGNS*
We have noted that instead of political parties to go about their campaigns and selling their manifestos to the people for informed decision on election day, they have imbibed a sad tradition of the use of vile and bile words against party candidates.
They are expected to strictly stick to issues and ideologically based engagements that will better the lot of the people.
Verbal attacks must be discouraged as it is capable of breeding bloody violence and eternal hate among supporters, instead, we encourage that Manifestos must be compulsorily documented and freely made available to citizens for record and reference purposes.
Candidates are expected to speak to issues and stop playing to the gallery during public outings and should call their online supporters to order as the verbal attacks are becoming more worrisome these days.
*ELECTION CREDIBILITY/RIGGING*
Edo state is known for its vibrancy, the continuous growth and development of our democracy rests on our collective and shared responsibility, as true democracy must demonstrate the will of the majority of the people and not that of a few persons in public institutions.
We, as the consciousness of the society will not allow anything less in this forthcoming governorship election. As a civil society network spread across the 18 local government areas of the state, we will be putting in place modalities to ensure all concerned play by the rules.
We shall ensure that this election is done in the most tranquil and transparent circumstances where nobody, however highly placed he may be shall NOT be allowed to truncate the will of the people this time around.
We therefore insist that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) give Edo people assurance by its actions and activities that, it is ready to conduct a free, fair and credible governorship election in Edo state, while calling on our security agencies, the Nigeria police force, DSS, NSCDC and the military not to take part in the rigging plans as been recorded previously or putting the lives of citizens in exacerbated fears and uncertainty.
We hope that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission can for once wake up to one of its major responsibilities by channelling its energy chase after vote buyers and sellers during this election which is more of national sabotage than chasing after ‘yahoo boys’.
*LAUNCH OF ELECTION SITUATION ROOM*
Consequently, Edo Civil Society Organisations is excited to announce to you gentlemen of the press, all and sundry of the official launch of our Situation Room for the 2024 Edo Governorship Election. The Election Situation room will run from today 3rd day of September 2024 till post-election days. The Election Situation Room will be a 24-hour service aimed at receiving real-time reports from our members and members of the public for instant analysis, assessment and reporting.
Our phone numbers, Whatsapp numbers, social media handles, email and website will be utilized in receiving and responding to reports during pre-election, election and post-election happenings respectively.
Our mantra for the Election Situation Room is christened ‘EYES ON THE BALL’. If we see it, we will not just report or say it, WE WILL SHOUT IT by all means until the world hears it.
Once again, we want to thank you all for your immeasurable time. We will be updating the public regularly on happenings within this period and issuing statements that will deliver our most desired election outcome.
Leftist Omobude Agho, Coordinator General, Leftist Godspower Okumbor, Secretary General.
Edo State Governorship Election Issued By Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) On The 3rd Of September 2024
