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Urgent Appeal to INEC for Fairness and Democracy in the Edo State Election Results

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Urgent Appeal to INEC for Fairness and Democracy in the Edo State Election Results

By Matthias OBAHIAGBON

For Democracy to thrive in Nigeria it must be a system of governance by the people, of the people, and for the people .It has become more apparent and expedient for Edolites to be more proactive in the political arena if their survival is to be guaranteed. Edo State must not be taken back 15years after achieving such gargantuan progress and development over the last few years. This piece is a call for unity, not only amongst the political gladiators, but the generality of the good people of the heartbeat of the nation.

Presently, Edo State has attained a very high level of development with successful projects and programs activated in all areas of her socio- economic landscape; agriculture, health, education, ICT, infrastructure, etc., Edo cannot afford a systemic destruction and disintegration by incompetent unknowledgeable individuals couched as politicians all for personal gains and ego.

His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki has only just been recognised by the Federal Government of Nigeria as the Digital Governor of the Year on Public Sector Automation Reform, and to be so honored with an award. Recall our proactive Governor also earned the Meritorious award as the Pensioners – Friendly Governor in Nigeria, the NUT Best Performing Governor award, and the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) Open Government Champion award, amongst others. Needless to say he was the first Governor to pay N70,000 minimum wage to Civil Servants long before the federal and state governments.
These are attributes and testaments of the development in the State.

The stakes are too high for the State to be handed to stooges and persons unknown.

INEC, as an electoral umpire should not submit herself to be used as an instrument of destruction bringing the state down, taking it backwards. Posterity will not be very kind to all the agents of darkness who connive and conspire to strip and possibly rape the State of her virtue and re-inventiveness.

What is evident is Edo has become a victim in a war of artisans against technocrats .A State proud to be referred to as being the heartbeat in a season where the rest of the country seem to be comatose. The Edo people of yore celebrated for resilience, dexterity, and drive, honesty in her zeal to grow.

It was no wonder or surprise when PDP emerged winners of the September polls.The uploaded results on INEC’s Portal acknowledged and celebrated excellence and acceptance . However, in a sudden twist of fate there has been a controversial and magical declaration by INEC for the All Progressives Congress (APC) claiming victory in the election.

As the esteemed electoral umpire responsible for overseeing elections in Nigeria, it is critical for INEC to be impartial and uphold the principles of democracy and ensure that the will of the people prevails. The integrity of the electoral process hinges on transparency, fairness, and respect for the voice of the electorate. Therefore, I urge INEC to prioritize the interests of democracy over partisan politics and take decisive action to rectify any discrepancies in the election results.

In the spirit of justice and democracy, it is imperative that INEC conducts a thorough review of the election results to confirm the true winner of the Edo State election as known to all. The credibility of our electoral system is at stake, and it is incumbent upon INEC to demonstrate impartiality, adherence to electoral laws, and a commitment to upholding the sanctity of the electoral process.

I implore INEC, if truly independent, to resist any undue influence, pressure, or interference from external parties and remain steadfast in its mandate to safeguard the democratic rights of the Nigerian people. The legitimacy of our democracy rests on the trust and confidence of the electorate, and it is imperative that INEC upholds its duty to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.

This plea is coming at a time where lives have been invested for development to happen. A time where our ancestors have been invoked to act and attack conspirators and detractors of our development, a time when our children have cried to the Most High God to remove redundancy and rot that has enslaved our people.

All we are saying Is Enough is Enough! We want growth which we can see and sustainability which we have voted for.

In conclusion, I urge INEC to act in integrity, uphold the rule of law, and prioritize the interests of democracy by returning the people’s mandate to the rightful winner, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), through a transparent and unbiased results review process.

The eyes of the nation and the international community are upon you, and history will judge our commitment to democracy and electoral integrity and trust that INEC will exercise her authority with the utmost responsibility and dedication to the democratic ideals that define our nation without fear or favor.

Al Humphrey
Al Humphreyhttps://nigeria360.com.ng/
Mr Al Humphrey Onyanabo, better known as the StoryTeller has been a society watcher and reporter for about 30 years. He has written two books, Precious Little Thoughts to Lift the Day and The Art of Friendship. His ultimate is to start telling and selling the Nigerian story to a worldwide audience on film. He is passionate about Nigeria and believes we can be the Great NATION that we are if all of us play our roles, and hold the people we put in charge ACCOUNTABLE. He is a father and grandfather.
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