The
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the Edo
State governorship election will hold on Saturday as planned.
The electoral agency noted yesterday’s protest by students who complained that the poll will clash with the General Certificate Examination (GCE) organised by the West African examination Council (WAEC).
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu’s media aide Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, who spoke on telephone, said the commission, the political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders were ready for the poll.
He said while the INEC sympathised with the affected examination candidates, the poll cannot be shifted because the stage is already set.
Oyekanmi recalled that during the last stakeholders meeting in Benin City, the state capital, involving INEC officials, security agents and representatives of parties, the Edo State Commissioner of Police raised the issue.
He said: “There was a security meeting attended by the stakeholders. The Edo State Commissioner of Police who briefed the meeting said the WAEC would have to move its candidates outside the state. It is an election day and there will be restriction of movement. Free movement cannot be permitted because we don’t have to allow room for problems. The police was in contact with the WAEC. But, as at last week, the WAEC had not got back to the police.
Oyekanmi explained that although polls were shifted in the past under the Jonathan administration, the reason given by the top security personnel was insecurity.
He said if the poll is shifted, the commission will have to contend with bigger implications, adding that the guidelines, security arrangements and the implementation of the electoral law may be affected.
Oyekanmi stressed: “The election cannot be shifted. There are bigger implications as well. Politicians may begin to accuse the INEC of a hidden agenda. We have the electoral law we have been following. We have a time-table we are implementing. INEC, security agencies, parties and other stakeholders are set. I sympathise with the candidates for examinations. It is a very difficult situation.”
The electoral agency noted yesterday’s protest by students who complained that the poll will clash with the General Certificate Examination (GCE) organised by the West African examination Council (WAEC).
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu’s media aide Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, who spoke on telephone, said the commission, the political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders were ready for the poll.
He said while the INEC sympathised with the affected examination candidates, the poll cannot be shifted because the stage is already set.
Oyekanmi recalled that during the last stakeholders meeting in Benin City, the state capital, involving INEC officials, security agents and representatives of parties, the Edo State Commissioner of Police raised the issue.
He said: “There was a security meeting attended by the stakeholders. The Edo State Commissioner of Police who briefed the meeting said the WAEC would have to move its candidates outside the state. It is an election day and there will be restriction of movement. Free movement cannot be permitted because we don’t have to allow room for problems. The police was in contact with the WAEC. But, as at last week, the WAEC had not got back to the police.
Oyekanmi explained that although polls were shifted in the past under the Jonathan administration, the reason given by the top security personnel was insecurity.
He said if the poll is shifted, the commission will have to contend with bigger implications, adding that the guidelines, security arrangements and the implementation of the electoral law may be affected.
Oyekanmi stressed: “The election cannot be shifted. There are bigger implications as well. Politicians may begin to accuse the INEC of a hidden agenda. We have the electoral law we have been following. We have a time-table we are implementing. INEC, security agencies, parties and other stakeholders are set. I sympathise with the candidates for examinations. It is a very difficult situation.”
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