The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is prepared to withdraw from the Edo and Osun state gubernatorial election if violence is encountered.
While speaking in an interview on Channels Mr. Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, also disclosed that INEC is ready to conduct any election in these states but the recent feud and development which looms in the state gives the commission a rethink.
The Edo state impending gubernatorial election is due September 19, Pre-election violence looms in the state amid the election as recently thugs paraded at the Oba of Benin palace gate confronting Obaseki and his retinue on their visit to the Oba quickly descended into violence.
Several people were injured and cars parked outside the palace were badly damaged. Flags bearing the PDP insignia were torn to shreds. The combatants shot into the air until they were dispersed by the palace guards.
Although it’s difficult to tell who instigated the fighting, it gives an indication of the trouble that could come in the September election.
However, Having closely accessed the crises in Edo state, INEC said the commission will strategise with the security agencies and will move in to make sure that the people of Edo State and the people of Ondo State are given the choice and exercise their sovereign rights to choose whoever they want as their leaders.
Festus Okoye stated
“The violence we are talking about will be the type of violence that puts people on edge, which puts fear in the minds of the people.
“The type of violence that is cogent and verifiable, that everybody can see and be sure that the peace and security of the state are being threatened. It is not if there is violence maybe in a particular ward that the security agencies have been able to contain that we are going to call off the election.
“Type of violence I’m talking about and the type of issues that will lead us not to proceed with the election must be so serious that no regulatory agency or no regulatory commission will move into such a place to go and conduct election when it is completely unsafe to conduct the election.
“We are determined to proceed with this election but if we encounter the type of violence that is unbearable, the type of violence that will make it completely impossible to conduct anything called an election, we will pull out”.
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