Edo: Security impartiality, voters’ resilience, INEC integrity will shape polls – Yiaga Africa

A Civil Society Organisation, Yiaga Africa has said an impartiality test for security agencies, a resilience test for citizens and an integrity test for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were three critical tests that could shape the Edo State election.

Newspot reports that Dr Aisha Abdullahi, chair of the 2024 Edo Election Mission Yiaga Africa noted these tests at a pre-election press conference on Thursday in Benin City.

Abdullahi, who said three major political parties, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Labour Party, LP and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, dominated the campaigns, noted that the campaigns, however, degenerated into a contest marked by personal attacks, character assassination, hate speeches and ‘blame-game politics by the major contenders.

While noting that the high rate of Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs collection indicates a willingness among the electorate to participate in the election, she said factors like potential violence, economic hardship, and a deep-seated lack of confidence in the electoral process could deter voters from voting at the election.

According to her, past elections in Edo State reflect this trend, with voter turnout declining from 32 percent in 2016 to 27 percent in 2020, making an 8 percent decrease.

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“Additionally, widespread disillusionment with political elites and persistent governance failures may further discourage voter participation.

“The campaign period was signposted with strongarm tactics and violence. The activities of cult groups and political thugs intensified amidst the proliferation of small and light arms.

“Yiaga Africa is concerned that politicians will tactically employ violence and intimidation to suppress voters in specific polling units and Local Government Areas”, she said.

Abdullahi alleged that armed groups and political thugs may disrupt INEC’s deployment of election material or elections at the polling units to influence the outcome of the elections.

She identified eight local governments namely Ikpoba Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Esan South East, Etsako West and Etsako East as hotspots for violence that required a strategic and neutral deployment of security forces.

She noted that as INEC begins the deployment of sensitive materials to various local government areas, it must coordinate effectively with the transport companies and unions responsible for logistics.

“This coordination is crucial for the timely deployment of materials not only to the Registration Area Centres, RACs but also to ensure early delivery of materials and personnel to polling units on election day.

“This will reverse the trend of late commencement of polls observed in previous elections in Edo State”, she stated.

She called on the transport unions not to exploit the hike in fuel prices to default on their contractual obligations with INEC and urged voters to demonstrate resilience by turning up to vote in the polling units.

She tasked the electorates to resist attempts to buy their votes by parties, as well as intimidation and manipulation before, during and after the election.