At Mock Accreditation, Yakubu Promises INEC’ll Protect Voters’ Choice in Edo Poll

•PDP fixes campaign grand finale for September 14 

•Obaseki raises alarm over alleged APC collusion with police

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday, at a mock accreditation exercise, said the commission was poised to protect the choice of the Edo electorate in the September 21 governorship election.

Yakubu reiterated that the responsibility of choosing the next governor of the state was entirely that of the voters.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the governing party in the state, fixed the grand finale of its governorship election campaign for September 14.

Yakubu spoke in Benin City during an assessment visit to Edo State to ascertain the level of preparedness for the polls. He assured the people of free, fair and credible elections.

Yakubu stated, “INEC is not a political party and, therefore, doesn’t have a candidate in this election. The responsibility of choosing the next Edo State governor is entirely in the hands of Edo voters.

“Our assurance to all registered voters is to come out to vote for the party and the candidate of their choice. INEC will protect the integrity of the process and uphold the choice made by the electorate.”

Yakubu said the commission had visited three local governments area to assess readiness for the election in terms of the materials received and how they were organising for the exercise in the next 11 days.

He added, “We have visited two centres to observe a mock accreditation exercise intended to test-run the integrity of our systems ahead of the election, both for voters accreditation as well as uploading of the results to IREC potter.”

The INEC boss said the commission was satisfied with the level of preparation by the local government offices in the three offices visited in Oredo, Egor, and Ikpoba/Okha local governments, as well as the two centres of the mock exercise.

According to him, the commission has backup machines for the election in case of faulty machines.

He stated that the machines used for the mock accreditation in 12 polling units across three senatorial districts in Edo State will not be used for the election.

Yakubu said, “Also, the BVAS to be used for the election are different from the mock exercise. Similarly, the BVAS that are going to be used for training officials will not be deployed for the election.

“For this off-cycle election, we have enough systems to go round. I want to assure you that the integrity of the system is protected.”

PDP said it will wrap up its governorship election campaign with a rally on September 14.

The announcement was signed by Chairman, National Campaign Council of PDP, Edo 2024 Governorship Election, and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, and the two co-deputy chairmen, Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Kefas Agbu of Taraba State.

The party stated, “The National Campaign Council and the State Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hereby invite leaders and members of the PDP, including governors, former presidents and vice presidents, members of the National Assembly, former governors and deputy governors, members of State House of Assembly, and all members and supporters of the PDP, among others, to the grand finale of the 2024 Edo State governorship election campaign.

“The auspicious event is scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 14, 2024, by 10am at the Garrick Memorial Grammar School Grounds, on Ekehuan Road, Benin City.

“The event will mark the completion of the campaigns for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State and set the course for the victory of the party on Election Day.”

Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, raised the alarm over alleged collusion between All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigeria Police to hound, attack, kidnap, and lock up members of PDP ahead of the election.

Obaseki, in a statement he personally signed, said, “In the last few weeks, the police under the manipulation of the APC, has arrested not less than 10 PDP chieftains who they perceive would be strong political opposition to them in the coming election.

“This came to a head with the arrest and whisking to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, of the serving Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Collins Aigbogun.

“On learning of his arrest, I reached out to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, asking that due process be followed and that the matter be handled within the state’s jurisdiction. This directive was flouted, directly undermining my authority as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the state.

“We also have it on good authority that a rogue police team has been provided with a longlist of PDP chieftains to be arrested and detained until after the election.

“All petitions and appeals to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have not dissuaded men of the police from going about with the mandate of intimidating members of the PDP and launching sting operations to capture, kidnap, and lock up PDP chieftains across the state.”