The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has admitted that it had to postpone the governorship election in Edo State scheduled for September 10 due to security report that did not make it safe to hold it on the said date, and has therefore rescheduled it for September 28.
The National Commissioner in charge of voters Education and Publicity, Solomon Souebi, who spoke on the issue, said that the decision to postpone the election was reached at a security meeting held with security agencies on Thursday evening.
Soyebi noted that the commission has successfully implemented 12 out of 14 conditions set for a successful election, but however received official communication from the police and DSS drawing their attention on the need to postpone the election.
He said: “However at about 6pm today the commission received official communication from the police and DSS drawing it’s attention to the need to postpone the Edo governorship elections. Such postponement the communication indicates is necessary in view of threats of terrorists activities in Edo State and other states of the federation during the election and over the Sallah period.
“The deployment of security personnel country wide to secure lives and property would over stretched their capacity to at the same time provide adequate security for the election.
“Consequently the commission notes the request of the security agencies and considering the security implications of proceeding with the election the safety of Eligable voters, electoral officials, including ad-hoc staff and other stakeholders has decided to reschedule the Edo governorship elections to Wednesday 28 September 2016.
“The commission enjoins all eligible voters in Edo State, political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to be peaceful and law abiding.”
This was even as the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole dismissed allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party that the APC was agitating for the postponement of the election.
He called on members of the party in the state to be vigilant and “de-rig the opposition parties with their Permanent Voters Card.”
He alleged that governors of neighbouring Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States were preparing to bring in militants into the state to perpetrate violence during the election.
He warned persons that might be used for such act to have a rethink or face the consequences if they are caught. [myad]
