Oshiomhole Preaches Peace As Etsako Rerun Poll Holds Today

By Francis Onoiribholo, Snr Correspondent, Benin

As the rerun election for the Etsako Central seat in the Edo State House of Assembly takes place today, a 12-hour loitering restriction has been imposed by the state government in Etsako Central Local Government Area of the state. 

Governor Adams Oshiomhole announced the restriction order when the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6, Felix Ogbaudu, and the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ahmed Raji, paid him a courtesy visit at the Edo Government House. 

He said the restriction of movement of persons from 7 a.m. is to enable voting materials to be conveyed from the hinterland communities to the collation centre and those with no business with the election should stay away from the area. 

According to him, the decision to restrict movement is also to ensure that people keep to the election guidelines, which states that those who do not have any business with the election should stay away from the area. 

The Governor, who expressed confidence on the ability of the police to provide security during the election, said the people were worried and concerned about allegation of procurement of firearms that might be deployed to endanger life during the election. 

“The security of the people is important for us, that is why I was concerned with the withdrawal of the soldiers in the Joint Police and Military Task Force (Operation Thunderstorm),” he said. 

According to him, the minimum responsibility of government is to protect lives and property. 

He therefore appealed to the police to create an enabling environment in the area and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make sure the rules of the election are obeyed. 

“My interest is to protect the interest of all persons irrespective of political party and with the oath of office we have sworn that as a government we would treat everybody equally before the law, he assured.   

Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society organisations on Friday called on INEC in Edo State to put in place machinery for a credible election that would be free, fair and transparent by ensuring that the votes of the people of Etsako Central Constituency count. 

The group also called on INEC to ensure that electoral materials are delivered to all polling booths on time and that voting starts and ends on schedule while the Nigerian Police and other law enforcement agencies should put in place adequate and non-partisan security network to guarantee safety of lives and property. 

Four political parties, including Action Congress (AC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will participate in the rerun election.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin had last December upheld the judgment of the lower tribunal which nullified the election of Chris Umogbai of the PDP.

Tags: Etsako

Bookmark: