The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it won’t hesitate to postpone the upcoming election in Edo and Ondo states if there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on the appointed date, Igbere TV reports.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, disclosed this at a Webinar organized by the International Press Centre (IPC) and Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), on Monday, September 07, 2020.
He said; “INEC is not permitted by law to disqualify political parties from participating in the Edo governorship election, but Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) gives the commission the power to postpone an election if there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on the appointed date.”
Appealing to the journalists to be fair in their election report, Mr. Oyekanmi, assured that journalists will have a good experience with security agents during the forthcoming elections.
“Regardless of the not-so-pleasant experiences journalists might have experienced with security agents during elections in the past, they are rest assured of good experience this time around. We are grateful for the synergy and we will continue to work together. I assure you that the experience will be different,” he said.
He, however, said the commission has no interest in the outcome of the polls but the credibility of the exercise.
“It is the duty of INEC to provide a level playing field. We are not interested in the outcome of the elections but the credibility of the process, to ensure that materials get to the polling unit in good time.”
Igbere TV reports that the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections is slated to hold on September 19 and October 10 respectively.
It will be recalled that in 2016, INEC was forced to postpone the governorship election in Edo State by two weeks citing security issues and threat to peaceful conduct of the poll.
Already, there is anxiety in Edo as the residents are unsure if the much-anticipated election believed to be a straight fight between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) will proceed as scheduled.
