The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) says it may summon political parties and their
candidates in the Edo governorship election over the violent rallies on the
state.
Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman,
said this on Wednesday when he led a delegation from the commission to meet
with stakeholders in Nasarawa central ahead of the state constituency
by-election.
In Edo where the governorship
election is scheduled for September 19, rallies held by some political parties
have been marred by violence.
Yakubu said the commission will
meet on Thursday to discuss developments on the Edo election after which it may
hold an urgent meeting with the political parties.
“We are carefully monitoring what
is happening in Edo state and also in Ondo,” he said.
“The commission will be meeting
tomorrow and given the urgency of the situation in Edo state, we may have to
immediately call a meeting of not just the candidates and the political parties
but also the campaign councils — whatever we have to do to stem the ugly report
of violence so far.”
He also said INEC has resolved
that wherever election is disrupted, “we will simply withdraw; let the thugs
conclude the process and declare their winner.”
Yakubu, who inspected election
materials at the INEC office in Nasarawa, said the commission has delivered all
that is required for the Nasarawa central constituency by-election holding on
Saturday.
“We have delivered all the
non-sensitive materials for the Nasarawa central election. The sensitive
materials arrived a few days ago and are at the Central Bank of Nigeria in
Lafia,” he said.
“My overall assessment is that we
are good to go in Nasarawa state. It is an important election for us because
this is the first election in Nigeria in the context of COVID-19 and we deliberately
chose to start with Nasarawa central by-election so that we can learn the vital
lessons we need to learn ahead of Edo and Ondo governorship elections, as well
as 15 outstanding by-elections including six senatorial districts.
“So, on the whole, I am satisfied
and reassured. So we look forward to a good election on Saturday.”
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