Edo APC Faults New Electoral Law, to Boycott LG Election

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the new Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) law, saying it does not conform with Electoral Act of 2022.

The APC also said it would contest the new law in court and also pull out of the  local government election  which the law is meant for.

Speaking through its Publicity Secretary yesterday, Peter Uwadiae, the party said it is worrisome that a democratically elected government would engage in activities that run contrary to the law, adding that there is no provision in this year’s budget to run an election that will require a humongous amount.

The APC said: “The most important part of law, a 90-day notice to the parties, has now been shortened to 20 days which should not have been done without the input of the people. In conducting the election, there must be a synergy between the Electoral Act and EDSIEC law. In other words, the provision of the EDSIEC law should not run contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act. And if the law runs contrary to the Act, the Electoral Act should take precedence.

“We are very worried that a governor that was elected democratically will no longer preserve the tenet of democracy. That portends danger for us as Edo people. The APC is boycotting the election because of this aberration.

“The new Electoral Act 2022 shows that the local government election is no longer a jamboree. It has been taken beyond the the governors sitting in their offices or bed room and reel out figures for each local government,” the party  added.

It stated that trying to shorten the period for the election would not guarantee free, fair and credible election.

“The right to take part in an election is recognised by law so the people must be considered and the process of the election must the strictly adhered to. It is a fundamental right of the Edo State Government to conduct the election, but the question is, Why the hurry after we have been made to wait for this long?

“The vacuum being experienced now should have been taken care off long ago by conducting an election before the end of the tenure of the last chairmen. The APC has been on the neck of the state PDP led government as to why the elections were not conduct. Unfortunately, the House of Assembly concocted a document which they call the EDSIEC law, which saw them amending the most important part of law, a 90-day notice to the party has now been shortened to 20 day which should have been done without the input of the people.

“As we speak, the money that would be used for the election is not captured in the budget. So where is the government going to get the money to finance the election? There is no supplementary budget coming from the government to the House of Assembly, (if any). That is why the APC has always maintained that this state government is not a serious one.

“Also, the law must be amended with the nod of the 2/3 of the members. Today Edo State does not have that 2/3 with 14 members being shot out. It then means that there is no House of Assembly in Edo because it has only 10 members.

“The time table for the election also suggest that the screening is coming after the election would have been done. The government is ridiculing the state with this action.

“We are set to save the state from the grip of Governor Godwin Obaseki and we are starting with the local government election. We are also going to approach the court to ensure that this aberration is not allowed to take place,” the party added.