NAN-H-33
Peace
By Igbaugba Ehigimetor
Benin, Sept. 9, 2016 (NAN) The British Council and the European Union (EU) on Friday sued for a peaceful Governorship election on Sept. 28 in Edo.
Mr Ben James, Political Counsel at the British High Commission and Mr Richard Young, Deputy Head of Delegation, EU, both made the call at a meeting with Mr Godwin Obaseki, APC’s governorship candidate in Benin.
The council and EU, are part of the foreign observer-institutions accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to monitor the Edo governorship election on Sept. 28.
NAN reports that the INEC, in a dramatic twist on Thursday night, announced the postponement of the governorship election from Sept. 10 to Sept. 28, citing security reasons after it had earlier dispelled the rumour of a postponement.
The foreign observers also called for improvement in communication mechanisms between the political actors, the security agencies and INEC.
According to James, “Our concern is that the elections on Sept. 28 are held peacefully, conclusively and credibly.
“And that all the institutions, the parties, INEC, the Police and other security agencies do everything they can to make sure the people of Edo can decide who the next governor would be.
“We members of the international community are very keen and sure that the Sept. 28 election should be peaceful, free and fair, and should be supported.
“I think the important thing is that the institutions prepare themselves for the new date and the tensions that are coming are some of the tensions we have seen ourselves,” he said.
Young said, “It is important that the people respect the leadership and the leadership preaches peace in the build up to Sept. 28.
“With peace in mind, the election will be held in a peaceful environment.
“We came here to discuss the postponement of the governorship election and to make a number of appeals for increased contact with the political parties and INEC and the police and the security agencies.
“They should ensure that a careful ground is laid for the election to take place smoothly and calmly in a democratic and credible manner on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
“They need to have a sense that good communication between all the various actors, political parties, INEC, Police and security services is paramount in ensuring that the election takes place smoothly and calmly, in a peaceful manner,” he said.
Earlier, the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, said some of his supporters had been injured after being shot at by hired thugs allegedly recruited by the PDP, in Okpella, in the Etsako-East Local Government Area of Edo.
He said the shooting which started late on Thursday, had seen several of his supporters scampering for safety, while those injured have been taken to various hospitals for medical attention.
The evidence is now coming up; this is what we were talking about. At Okpella, last night, there were gunshots all through the night.
“The people who had been mobilised had arrived in the town, without realising that the election had been postponed.
“If it is happening in Edo-North, you could imagine what will happen in areas like Ovia.
“We know a lot of people were brought in from outside to come and register to vote in places like Ologbo or Ilushin. It is unfortunate that the security agencies didn’t act on time.
“We have the belief that there is no election that is worth the pint of blood of any Nigerian citizen because you can’t be killing the people you want to govern.
“So for the EU, the British Council and me, we are on the same page, that whatever is required to have a peaceful election, is what we preach and insist on,” he said
On the postponed election, he said, “It is not convenient for us because we have spent so much of time and people have travelled from far to vote.
“It is not convenient, but that is where we have found ourselves; we are okay with it if that is going to protect lives and property.
“We have to live with that, no matter the inconvenience,” Obaseki added. (NAN)
ESI/KOO/PIO
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(Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Controlled by Idonije Obakhedo)