Rivers State Governor,\u00a0 Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on the
\nIndependent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and Security Agencies to
\nbe apolitical in the September 19, 2020, governorship election in Edo
\nState.<\/p>\n
Speaking as Guest on a Television Programme, Governor Wike charged the
\nelectoral umpire to use the Edo election to correct its previous
\nmistakes.<\/p>\n
He said as the giant of Africa, other countries can learn something good
\non how to conduct free and fair elections from Nigeria.<\/p>\n
According to the governor, the success of Edo election will be largely
\ndetermined by the role played by security agencies and INEC.<\/p>\n
“This is so because they often interfere with electoral processes, which
\nmanifests as scuttling of the will of the electorate.<\/p>\n
“I do not know if I have one hundred percent confidence in INEC for now
\nbut maybe, as the days go on, what we will see may give us hope.<\/p>\n
“Nigeria prides itself to be the giant of Africa and we go to other
\ncountries to observe elections and adjudge them as free and fair.\u00a0 But
\nwe find it difficult to do the same here. We must show one\u00a0 good thing
\npeople can learn from us.<\/p>\n
“We want free and fair election. INEC should not be partial. They should
\nuse this election to correct the mistakes that have been done in the
\npast.<\/p>\n
“We want to see what was done under President Goodluck Jonathan when
\nAdams Oshiomhole went to Aso rock to thank him for allowing free and
\nfair election in Edo State then. We are appealing to President Muhammadu
\nBuhari to direct that democracy be protected in Edo election so that one
\nman one vote will count. We will also go to Aso rock to thank him,” he
\nstated.<\/p>\n
Governor Wike who is the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
\nNational Campaign Council stated that Edo governorship election would be
\neasy to win and Governor Obaseki has a clear coast to return as the
\ngovernor for a second term.<\/p>\n
The governor said, Nigerians are watching to see Edo people demonstrate
\nwhether they love themselves or not by proving support for a man who was
\ncelebrated as the pillar of Oshiomhole’s administration.<\/p>\n
“It is easy to win Edo election. This election will show if Edo people
\nlove themselves or not because they have two candidates; one has been
\ndemarketed by Oshiomole as not electable.<\/p>\n
“Four years ago,\u00a0 Obaseki was the best support for Oshiomhole’s
\ngovernment and he said Osage\u00a0 Ize-Iyamu cannot be trusted with money,
\nand that he is a fake pastor.<\/p>\n
“Even Ize-Iyamu did not challenge such allegations including the one
\nabout pouring acid on a fellow student.<\/p>\n
“This is the time to stop politicians with questionable character, who
\nsay one thing today and another the next day. Integrity, credibility,
\nand performance credentials favour Obaseki.<\/p>\n
“Oshiomhole should render an apology to Edo people to say that those
\nthings he said about Ize-Iyamu were not true and not just to say that he
\nregrets supporting Obaseki then.<\/p>\n
“Even now,\u00a0 you can see how the APC campaign is going. It is Oshiomole
\nthat is doing the campaign, showing that without him,\u00a0 Edo people will
\nnot vote Ize-Iyamu.\u00a0 It is the same nature of godfatherism that Obaseki
\nhas resisted,” he said.<\/p>\n
On the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Governor Wike
\nsuggested that technocrats should be used to run the agency instead of
\npoliticians.<\/p>\n
He said the commission was fond of executing projects in the States
\nwithout consulting State Governors.<\/p>\n
This, he said, has led to duplication of projects or in some cases not
\nentirely beneficial to the people.<\/p>\n
He said to stop the trend, he challenged the Commission in court\u00a0 and
\nwon.<\/p>\n
According to him, the court\u00a0 held that they must ensure that they
\nconsult the state governments before embarking on projects.<\/p>\n
Rivers State Governor,\u00a0 Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and Security Agencies to be apolitical in the September 19, 2020, governorship election in Edo State.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":75181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-news"],"yoast_head":"\n