The dust has finally settled on the confusion that has attended the possible conduct of governorship election in Edo State, South-South Nigeria.
The election that should have held on Saturday, September 10, 2016, across the state has now been postponed.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the state said that the “sneaky cancellation” of the polls was illegal and that it was borne out of the panic attack the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) suffered having sensed that it would be roundly beaten, that precipitated the intrusion of the presidency in the process.
Several sources told Sharpedgenews that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), was actually advised by the police and the State Security Service (SSS) to suspend the exercise because of logistical concerns and security threats. The security agencies had allegedly advised the shift following threats of attacks from militants in the South South and creeks of the Niger Delta.
However, the opposition PDP said that the voters in the state must be on guard, as the re-scheduling is being ascribed to APC’s desperation to buy time in order to perpetuate electoral fraud. Both accredited and citizen journalists told Sharpedgenews that there was an early attitude of lethargy on the part of INEC officials on Thursday as it was noticed that materials that were meant for the election were not sent out to out-stations, security was also relaxed in many towns and cities considered as flash points across Edo State.
A major critic of the ruling APC, governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose did not delay in unleashing heavy criticisms on the ruling party, saying that the arbitrary cancellation of the exercise was an ugly desperation.
According to Governor Fayose, the postponement of the Edo State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a very bad signal and beginning of the
end for democracy in Nigeria, “it is obvious that the All Progressives Congress (APC) feared that it can’t win the election and is ready to employ whatever crude means to subvert the wish of the
people.”
The governor, who said he was alarmed by the APC government of President Mohammadu Buhari’s use of security agencies to arm-twist democratic process said; “I warned Nigerians not to elect Buhari because he lacked capacity mentally, morally and intellectually to superintend over any civilised society, now we are all seeing the results. Our economy is in recession and democracy is also in recession!”
In a statement on Thursday, signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said INEC knew that it was not going to conduct the election on Saturday as scheduled but opted to deceive Nigerians.
He said; “Apart from the security agencies that they instructed not to provide security for the election, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was under instruction since yesterday (Wednesday) not to release electoral materials to INEC.”
“It was just a game by the APC-led federal government to frustrate the people of Edo State from kick-starting the journey of changing the APC one-chance change in Nigeria, but they should realise that the power of the people will always be greater than the power of those in power.
“How can you postpone an election less than 48 hours to the scheduled date? What manner of security concern could prevent an election in just one State when elections were held in Northeast States that are confronted by Boko Haram insurgents?
“Obviously, this is a sign of what to come in 2019 and Nigerians should not be amazed if in 2019, they tell us that elections cannot be conducted.
“This is sad! It is a sad commentary for democracy in Nigeria and I only hope this Buhari’s APC government will not collapse democracy in this country,” the governor said.
While calling on the people of Edo State to remain steadfast in their resolve to vote out the APC government, which has become a government of hunger, poverty, job loss, economic and political recession, insecurity and unprecedented sufferings, Governor Fayose said; “Let
them keep postponing their evil day, Edo people should just be vigilant and wait patiently for that day that they will use their votes to change the APC one-chance change.”