From Moshood Karim
With less than thirty-days to the Edo governorship election, the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) at a press conference on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, addressed critical issues surrounding the upcoming election scheduled for September 21, 2024.
The coalition stressed its role as a key stakeholder in the State, expressing the importance of ensuring a successful, credible, fair, and free election.
EDOCSO expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of recent political party primaries in Edo State, noting that these processes are still inadequately structured.
The organization pointed out that the lack of effective internal conflict resolution mechanisms within political parties often leads to post-primary litigations and media conflicts.
EDOCSO stressed that the selection of candidates has a lasting impact on society and urged political parties to improve their processes.
The Civil society group strongly condemned the recent surge in pre-election violence in Edo State, citing increased political intolerance, physical attacks, and the destruction of campaign materials and personal properties.
EDOCSO highlighted the incident at Benin Airport on July 18, 2024, involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the former Deputy Governor, Phillips Shaibu.
The altercation resulted in the death of Inspector Akor Onu, a police officer attached to Senator Okpebholo. EDOCSO called for an unbiased investigation by the Nigeria Police Force to ensure justice.
The organization also drew attention to a violent attack in Uhunmora, Owan West Local Government Area, where a young man was severely beaten and left for dead by a group of political opponents. EDOCSO urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
EDOCSO criticized the shift in focus among political parties from presenting their manifestos to engaging in verbal attacks against opponents.
The group warned that such behavior could lead to violence and long-lasting animosity among supporters. They urged political parties to prioritize sharing their manifestos with the electorate to enable informed decision-making.
EDOCSO announced that it would implement measures across all 18 local councils in Edo State to ensure that all political parties and actors adhere to the rules during the election.
The organization pledged to monitor the election closely to ensure that it is conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner, where the will of the people is respected.
The group also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to assure the people of Edo State that it is prepared to conduct a free, fair, and credible election.
Additionally, EDOCSO urged security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the military, to refrain from participating in any rigging activities, as witnessed in previous elections.
In a bid to further promote transparency, EDOCSO launched an Election Situation Room for the 2024 Edo gubernatorial election.
The Situation Room, which became operational on September 3, 2024, will remain active throughout the election period and beyond.
It is designed to provide a 24-hour service to receive real-time reports from members and the public, offering instant analysis, assessment, and reporting.
The Situation Room will utilize various communication channels, including phone numbers, WhatsApp, social media, emails, and the organization’s website, to handle reports related to pre-election, election day, and post-election events.
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