By Mercy Peter
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Thursday declared that the Edo election remains a litmus test for the November governorship poll in Ondo State.
Yakubu said the parties must get it right this time around by ensuring a peaceful environment for election.
He charged the parties on the need to avoid violence, saying the country must get it right this time around.
He spoke during an emergency meeting with political party leaders in the country ahead of the Edo State governorship poll.
INEC boss stressed that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria
He therefore charged the polictal parties to restore confidence in the electoral process by ensuring the sanctity of the ballot box, and respect the mandate of the people.
Yakubu said: “Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. Periodic election is the beauty of constitutional governance as power resides in the people. The Edo State governorship election is 22 days away. On Saturday 21st September 2024, citizens will troop out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice who will pilot the affairs of the state in the next four years.
“As leaders of political parties, this is our chance to restore confidence in the electoral process by ensuring the sanctity of the ballot box, and respect the mandate of the people.
“After 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria, we must get it right this time.
“The Edo State gubernatorial polls will be a litmus test for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2024, which in turn gives direction to future elections in the country.
“As the umbrella body of all registered political parties, IPAC is saddled with the responsibility of consolidating and deepening democracy by ensuring an environment conducive for successful elections, political stability and peaceful electoral process in the nation.
” Accordingly, Council urges political parties and their candidates to imbibe issue-based campaigns that will unite the people and foster development and sustainable democracy.
“There is no place for politics of bitterness and violence that has impeded the nation’s hard earned democracy. It is time to change the narrative. It is time for patriotism. It is time to strengthen, deepen and advance our democracy. It is a collective task in the quest for a strong, united, progressive, prosperous, equitable and just democratic society.
“The good people of Edo State are willing to come out en masse and vote for their next governor if the environment is conducive and their votes will count in the overall result.
“That is where the challenge is, and where IPAC will collaborate with other stakeholders including INEC – the electoral umpire, security agencies, election observers and the media to ensure that all votes are counted and reflect the wish of the electorate.
“The success of the election will drastically reduce post-election litigations and reinforce trust and confidence in the electoral process, thus, bolster voter turnout. It will also save the Judiciary from undue intervention and interference in the declaration of the winner of an election.
“To further enhance the nation’s representative governance, political parties should adhere strictly to internal democracy as provided in their respective constitution. We must live and lead by example. It is obvious that the failure to comply with parties’ constitutions is the remote cause of crises, leadership disagreements, factionalizations and litigations that have retarded the development of party politics in Nigeria. We should be the solution we seek in advancing democracy in the country. It is easy to blame the electoral body, security agencies and the Judiciary when as leaders of political parties we cannot comply with clear provisions of our parties’ constitutions and basic provisions of the electoral act and guidelines. It is time to jettison impunity and embrace internal democracy in our activities, particularly in the nomination of candidates for elections.
