Tag Archives: Edo Election

Edo Election To Now Hold September 28- INEC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has finally announced the postponement of Saturday’s governorship election in Edo by two weeks.

Solomon Soyebi, INEC national Commissioner in-charge of voter education and publicity, made the disclosure at a press conference at the commission’s office in Benin on Thursday.

Mr. Soyebi said the election would now hold on September 28, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

He attributed the postponement to alleged security threat as reported by security agencies.

The electoral commission had earlier on Thursday rejected the call for postponement by the police and the State Security Service, SSS. The commission had said it would not be “teleguided”, and argued that suspending the polls would be costly after reaching at least 97 per cent readiness level.

Hours after making that announcement, the commission backtracked and said it agreed to postpone the elections based on the security concerns cited by the police and the SSS.

The main opposition party, PDP, and its leaders have been very vocal in condemning the postponement of an election expected to be closely fought.

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http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/210116-edo-election-now-hold-september-28-inec-says-pdp-fayose-kick.html

Labour Hails INEC’s Decision To Go Ahead With Edo Election

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Mr Issa Aremu, Secretary General, Textile Workers’ Union of Nigeria ,on Thursday hailed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to postpone the Edo Governorship Election.

Aremu, in a press statement issued in Kaduna, said that the decision had reinforced confidence in the ability of the commission to protect the sanctity of elections.

The labour chieftain said INEC’s resolve to defend its independence “is a practical demonstration of the fact that “Change truly begins with INEC”, in line with the new national reorientation campaign.

“The sanctity of electoral calendar is the minimum requirement for free and fair election.

“If the electorate trust that INEC keeps to its announced dates and times for polls, they have no cause to mistrust and doubt the integrity of its results,” Aremu said.

He canvassed support for security agencies to ensure that the plot to scuttle the polls by desperate elements fail.

“Labour also called on all the contesting parties in the state to collaborate with the Independent Electoral commission for a free and fair poll.

“We hail the decisions of the police and DSS to raise the alarm about the threats posed by militants and insurgents adding that all must support the security agencies to nullify the threats of anti-democratic forces.”

Credit: NAN

NEWS ALERT: INEC Goes Ahead With Edo Election, Disregards Security Advisory

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has decided to go ahead with governorship election slated for Saturday in Edo State, casting aside security concerns.

This was by INEC Director of Publicity and Voters’ Education, Oluwole Ozzi, Thursday afternoon.

“We are going with the election,” Mr. Oluwole said in a short message to this newspaper.

The police and the State Security Service, on Wednesday, released a joint statement, seeking postponement of the election for security concerns.

“The Nigeria Police and Department of State Services wish to inform the general public that credible intelligence availed the agencies indicate plans by insurgent/extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and soft targets with high population during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations between 12th and 13th September, 2016. Edo State, is amongst the States being earmarked for these planned attacks by the extremist elements.

“It is in regard of these that we are appealing to INEC which has the legal duty to regulate elections in the country to consider the need for possible postponement of the date of the election in Edo State in order to enable security agencies deal decisively with the envisaged terrorist threats,” said the Police and the SSS through a statement by their respective spokespersons, Don Awunah and Garba Abdullahi.

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http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/210068-breaking-now-official-inec-diregards-security-advisory-goes-ahead-edo-election.html