INEC commended in Edo State despite electoral irregularities

INEC commended in Edo State despite electoral irregularities
By Tony Ekata, Benin City

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has continued to attract commendation for reshaping the electoral process in Nigeria.

Adams Oshiomole, the Governor of Edo state, one of the Niger Delta states of the country, told VON at his hometown, Iyamho, in Etsako West Local Government Area that he was satisfied with the work of INEC and its Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.

“Jega’s INEC represents not just a token improvement, it represents a substantial improvement in  the management of elections in this country. And when you bear in mind that Jega has had to work with old hands who have been involved in election rigging over the past twenty years, I think Jega has shown that a good head can make a difference in the way the body reacts, even if it is the same old body”, Oshiomole stated.

The Governor said he had brought reports of electoral malpractices to the attention of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, who promised to investigate.

Both the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu and Former Foreign Affairs Minister and party chieftain of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Tom Ikimi, also commended INEC.

Chief Ikimi said, “I think that the process which has been initiated by Professor Jega is a good process. I support it and I support the open ballot system. I recall that this was the system that we used in 1993, during the Abiola elections.”

Monetary inducement

Chief Ikimi however decried the use of money by politicians to induce voters at polling centres.
“What has happened in this local government is that they’ve introduced a feature which is unusual in elections in Nigeria. They’ve brought a lot of money into the process”, Ikimi claimed.

Commenting on the allegation, a leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and two-time Chairman of the local government, Mr. Felix Imoisili, dismissed the claim as bogus:

“l am not aware of that. Whoever alleges should prove his allegation. One thing is for you to say that something has been done. Another thing is for you to prove it. Let the person making the allegation provide his proof”, Imoisili countered.

Our correspondent reports that voting was generally peaceful in the state, where twenty-four House of Assembly seats and one deferred federal house of representative seat were contested for.

There was no gubernatorial election in Edo State, as the tenure of the incumbent governor will expire in November next year.