...charges INEC, security agencies to ensure total neutrality during Saturday's election
By Peter James
A group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kaduna PDP Restoration/Salvation Movement, on Monday, challenged the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and President Bola Tinubu on the peaceful and transparent conduct of Saturday's governorship election in Edo State.
The group said in a statement signed by its Chairman, Imam Adam Lawal, stated that the NPC, with its array of eminent personalities and prominent Nigerians, had a "herculean task to ensure transparency, equity, fairness, and justice in the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election, slated for the 21st September 2024."
It noted that the refusal of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State to sign the Peace Accord midwifed by the NPC and the reasons the PDP gave for its action called for very deep thinking and reflections to any untoward occurrence during Saturday's governorship poll in the state.
The group noted, "In an off-circle election and for the actions of the security agencies in their continuous arrest and detention of members of the PDP, including the Chairman of a local government and with a retinue of detention orders drawn out against PDP faithful, it is without a doubt that the stage has been effectively set for a chaotic process that may lead to a jumbled election that could breed anarchy.
"The basis for peace has been eroded by the multitude of actions taken to ensure the success of the APC by whatever means possible. No election can be adjudged to be peaceful if the fundamental principles for fairness are completely scoured."
The group therefore warned the Abdulsalami-led NPC not to allow itself to be used to ram down a peace accord that had become suspect down the throat of the electorate, to upstage the ruling PDP in Edo State.
It also challenged President Tinubu to ensure the conduct of
a free and fair governorship election in Edo on Saturday, which can also "be adjudged to be transparent and credible."
The group's statement further said, "With the much-touted Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, it begs to be seen how hope can be restored to our citizens through an electoral process that is conceivable and acceptable. It will not speak well if elections are conducted under suspicious circumstances that breed contempt.
"A revered and respected committee should not be used to muscle dissent after parties have signed a pact to abide by an outcome already premeditated and predetermined by the ruling party at the centre in Abuja.
"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu owes Nigerians a duty to conduct, for once, a free and fair election under his watch that can be adjudged to be transparent and credible. The Election that ushered in Mr. Godwin Obaseki as the Edo State Governor was not only hailed as a credible election, but his opponents did not route any grievance against the election through litigation in court to challenge the outcome because they were satisfied with the election process".
"In this vein, therefore, Obaseki is desirous of ensuring a repeat of that kind of feat so that INEC will bequeath to Edo State an election that will surpass the last one. That way, the state could be said to be home to credible elections."
The group also condemned the alleged use of the Presidency's official X handle to campaign for the Edo State APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okphebolo.
"Another disturbing trend in the peace saga was the use of the official X ( formerly Twitter) handle of the Presidency to campaign for the APC gubernatorial candidate for Edo State, Senator Monday Okphebolo. This move attracted widespread condemnation from citizens with people accusing the government of state capture. These are signs that Nigerians have lost confidence in the impartiality and independence of both the security agencies and the election umpire. There is a growing discontent with our judiciary and Nigerians are bent on an election that is free from judicial interference," it stated.
The PDP group, which further enjoined INEC and security agencies to demonstrate true neutrality during Saturday's governorship election in Edo State, added, "while peace is a sine qua non in any sane society; its sustainability and endurance are rooted in equity, fairness, and justice. We call on the security agencies, the electoral umpire, and the government to give peace a chance by ensuring a peaceful election in Edo State. It is what the country needs at this trying time of our democratic journey."
Below is the full text of the PDP group's statement:
WHY THE PEACE COMMITTEE MUST BROKER PEACE IN EDO GUBER ELECTIONS
The National Peace Committee headed by Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar with eminent personalities as members, has a herculean task to ensure transparency, equity, fairness, and justice in the forthcoming Edo State Gubernatorial Election slated for the 21st September 2024.
The refusal of the PDP to sign the Peace Accord and the reasons advanced by the party are worth ruminating over. In an off-circle election and for the actions of the security agencies in their continuous arrest and detention of members of the PDP, including the chairman of a local government and with a retinue of detention orders drawn out against PDP faithful, it is without a doubt that the stage has been effectively set for a chaotic process that may lead to a jumbled election that could breed anarchy.
The basis for peace has been eroded by the multitude of actions taken to ensure the success of the APC by whatever means possible. No election can be adjudged to be peaceful if the fundamental principles for fairness are completely scoured.
With the much-touted Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, it begs to be seen how hope can be restored to our citizens through an electoral process that is conceivable and acceptable. It will not speak well if elections are conducted under suspicious circumstances that breed contempt.
A revered and respected committee should not be used to muscle dissent after parties have signed a pact to abide by an outcome already premeditated and predetermined by the ruling party at the centre in Abuja.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu owes Nigerians a duty to conduct, for once, a free and fair election under his watch that can be adjudged to be transparent and credible. The Election that ushered in Mr. Godwin Obaseki as the Edo State Governor was not only hailed as a credible election, but his opponents did not route any grievance against the election through litigation in court to challenge the outcome because they were satisfied with the election process. In this vein, therefore, Obaseki is desirous of ensuring a repeat of that kind of feat so that INEC will bequeath to Edo State an election that will surpass the last one. That way the state could be said to be home to credible elections.
Another disturbing trend in the peace saga was the use of the official X ( formerly Twitter) handle of the Presidency to campaign for the APC gubernatorial candidate for Edo State, Senator Monday Okphebolo. This move attracted widespread condemnation from citizens with people accusing the government of state capture. These are signs that Nigerians have lost confidence in the impartiality and independence of both the security agencies and the election umpire. There is a growing discontent with our judiciary and Nigerians are bent on an election that is free from judicial interference.
While peace is a sine qua non in any sane society; its sustainability and endurance are rooted in equity, fairness, and justice. We call on the security agencies, the electoral umpire, and the government to give peace a chance by ensuring a peaceful election in Edo State. It is what the country needs at this trying time of our democratic journey.
Signed:
Imam Adam Lawal,
Chairman, Kaduna State PDP Restoration/Salvation Movement
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