From Moshood Karim
Benin City- As the Edo State gubernatorial election approaches, the President of the Network of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria, Comrade Ogbidi Emmanuel, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and political actors to ensure a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.
Speaking at the 2024 Edo State Election Town Hall, organized by the Independent Television/Radio on Friday, Comrade Emmanuel advocated the importance of neutrality and integrity in the upcoming poll.
He noted that while political parties have been promoting their candidates, there has been a concerning lack of advocacy against electoral violence.
“This Town Hall meeting for the Edo 2024 guber election is the first of its kind, addressing issues that Nigerians are currently facing,” said Emmanuel.
“My strong message to the various political parties is that while they are promoting their candidates, they should also take responsibility for educating Edo youths against violence, ballot box theft, and carrying weapons for any political party.”
Emmanuel also called on INEC and security agencies to uphold their roles as impartial arbiters in the election.
“It is crucial that INEC and security agencies distinguish themselves by being neutral, providing all political parties with a level playing field. The goal should be to conduct an election that no one will contest in court.”
The Town Hall event featured a keynote address by Professor Eddy Erhagbe, who dismissed recent calls for military intervention in Nigeria. He stressed that the democracy enjoyed today was hard-fought and must be defended.
“The call for military intervention or a coup has far-reaching implications. The freedoms we have today would disappear. The defense of our democracy rests on all of us,” he said.
Professor Erhagbe also urged political candidates to fulfill their electoral promises if elected, pointing out that non-performance and corruption are significant challenges to Nigeria’s development.
“Part of the crisis we face today is the failure of public officials to keep their promises. Corruption, where public funds are diverted for private use, exacerbates these issues.”
He recommended electoral reforms, greater commitment to fulfilling electoral promises, and a stronger focus on the welfare of the people as key steps toward strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
The Managing Director of Independent Television, Engr. Elvis Obaseki, highlighted the purpose of the Town Hall meeting as part of the station’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
“We aim to create a platform for an engaging and issue-based electoral process,” he said, noting that the event provided an opportunity for political candidates to present their plans and agendas to the people of Edo State.
Political parties that participated in the Town Hall included the African Action Congress (AAC), All Progressive Congress (APC), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, and Young Progressive Party.
Each party outlined their manifestos, focusing on their plans for the State if their candidates are elected as the next governor of Edo State.
