Edo Decides 2024: PDP Shifts Stance, Praises INEC

The Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi, has expressed satisfaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s preparations for the upcoming governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.

Speaking on Thursday morning in Benin City at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where sensitive election materials were being distributed, Aziegbemi said, “The process has been pretty good. INEC has fulfilled most of its promises.”

He highlighted the involvement of key electoral officials, noting, “The National Commissioner supervising Edo and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) are both signing the result sheets, including the Ward and Local Government Area (LGA) forms.”

Aziegbemi called on the police to ensure the safety of the materials during their transportation to local INEC headquarters, adding, “We hope that the police will do the right thing and protect the materials on their journey to the different LGAs.”

This positive tone contrasts with the PDP’s earlier stance, where the party expressed concerns about INEC’s neutrality. The party had previously raised an alarm over the Edo REC’s ties to Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, suggesting potential bias due to their prior working relationship during Wike’s tenure as governor of Rivers State.

Despite these concerns, INEC, through the Chief Press Secretary to its Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, maintained that the REC would not be redeployed and assured the public of a transparent electoral process. INEC emphasized that the election would take place in 4,519 polling units across the state, with results declared at the polling unit level after voting and counting, in the presence of accredited agents and stakeholders.