Why We Postponed Edo Governorship Election – INEC
Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman[/caption]
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has explained the reason for the postponement of the Edo State governorship election initially scheduled for Saturday by two weeks.
Recall that the electoral body, after being advised by security agencies to postpone the election over claims of threat emanating from insurgents bent on attacking electorates and disrupting the election, had stated that the scheduled election will hold as planned.
But giving reasons for retracting its earlier stance to proceed with the election, the INEC said the latest decision was based on a better appraisal of the situation by INEC, following explanations from the security agencies.
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The spokesperson of INEC, Nick Dazang, on Thursday night, said that the commission’s previous decision to go ahead was because it had earlier received reports from the same security operatives during a stake holders forum that there would be sufficient protection of lives and properties during the election.
The statement read, “It was only as at this evening that we were officially communicated and they explained to us the challenges they had that would affect their capacity to secure the election.
“Before then, we were hearing just like any other person from the media that they were advising us to postpone. And as a responsible organisation, we did not think there was any way we could proceed on that basis.
“Don’t forget that the story started trending that we were advised to postpone the election as we were conducting the stake holders forum in Benin.
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“The Police and the SSS were represented there, at the highest level. The DIG operations represented the IG and he was telling the stake holders, at the full glare of reporters, that they would secure the environment for the election.
“That was the reason for the initial stand. Those that gave the assurance were far higher than those who issued the statement. So if the IG is saying one thing and a much lower person is saying another, who should we follow?” he queried.
Mr. Dazang then provided more details of the security agencies claims.
“They explained that going ahead with the election would over stretch them and that giving the situation, it was crucial for them to ensure the protection of voters, as well as our staff.
“You know we are not in a position to secure our staff. And we do not want to put them in harm’s way,” he added.
