EDOCSO Calls on IGP to Reinstate Edo Security Network, Cites Election-Related Concerns

From Moshood Karim

The Edo State Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO) has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Agbetokun, to lift the suspension placed on the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) in the lead-up to the recently concluded 2024 Edo governorship election.

The group believes that with the election over, reinstating the local vigilante group is necessary for maintaining public safety.

The call was made in Benin, as EDOCSO reviewed the aftermath of the election. According to Comrade Omobude Agho, the Coordinator General of EDOCSO, the ESSN has been instrumental in reducing crime across the state since its establishment.

Agho appealed to the IGP to urgently restore the network, emphasizing its importance for security in the state. “We appeal to the Inspector-General of Police to urgently reinstate a date for the resumption of the ESSN’s activities,” Agho said.

Agho also commended the peaceful conduct of the election but expressed concern over widespread vote buying, which he said marred the integrity of the electoral process.

He claimed that both major political parties were involved in the illicit practice, with votes allegedly being sold for sums ranging from N10,000 to N20,000, or even less in some areas.

“Votes were freely sold and bought in a very peaceful atmosphere. In some cases, voters left without voting when they couldn’t secure a satisfactory deal,” Agho lamented.

In addition to vote-buying concerns, Agho criticised the handling of electoral materials by security agencies, citing instances where officials moved materials away from polling units without the presence of party agents.

He pointed to specific cases in Oredo and Ikpoba Okha where security forces allegedly relocated Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) materials to the headquarters without proper procedures.

According to Agho, this deviation from the norm raised suspicions and protests, as party agents and observers were barred from monitoring the process.

“The irregularities in the collation of results, coupled with the exclusion of party agents and accredited observers, leaves room for suspicion and compromise, thereby undermining the credibility of the election,” Agho stated.

Despite these concerns, Agho congratulated the governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy-elect, Dennis Idahosa, on their victory.

He also urged aggrieved parties to seek legal recourse rather than resorting to violence or self-help.