Task Political Parties On Peaceful Conduct
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies in Edo State yesterday urged the electorate and the participating political parties in the forthcoming governorship election to embrace peace and avoid electoral violence.
The electoral umpire and security agencies also gave assurance of their readiness to provide a level playing field for all political parties in the countdown to the election.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting organised by INEC with party leaders in Edo State, the Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adeboye, said the security agencies comprising the Police, Army, NSCDC, NIS and NCS are committed to providing a safe and secure atmosphere for the conduct of the September 21 governorship election in the state.
Adeboye charged the electorate and the political parties to make the election violence-free by playing by the rules. He lamented the challenge of deploying officers with firearms to voting centres to maintain law and order, noting that such is alien in the developed world.
In his remarks, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the peaceful atmosphere so far in the state ahead of the election encourages the commission.
He called for sustained efforts to ensure a secure environment for the election, warning against acts of violence as recently recorded in Oredo and Owan West Local Councils during the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise.
“In the spirit of peace and peaceful conduct of the election, let’s maintain the peace. We are aware of what is happening in Edo State. Shooting of guns at CVR centres is unacceptable. I can tell you that violence does not pay.
“To the party leaders, just as you are mobilising your supporters to register for the CVR, also mobilise them to pick up their PVCs. We have over 200,000 uncollected PVCs in Edo State alone,” he disclosed.
Yakubu said the commission was adequately prepared and committed to conduct a credible governorship election, expressing satisfaction with the stakeholders over how they have been handling the election process in the state.
He commended the political parties for the way and manner they have carried on since the ban on election campaigns, describing the build-up to the election as most peaceful.
However, representatives of various political parties urged INEC and the security agencies to double up their efforts in performing their duties. They particularly called for the exclusion of the Edo State Security Network (ESN) from participating as security operatives during the governorship election.
