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We Could Still Have Conducted Edo Election, INEC’s Commissioner Says

The INEC Commissioner For Voters And Publicity, Mr Solomon Soyebi, has said that the commission was not under any pressure to postpone the elections and … Continue reading We Could Still Have Conducted Edo Election, INEC’s Commissioner Says


INEC, Edo Election, Solomon soyebi

INEC, Edo Election, Solomon soyebiThe INEC Commissioner For Voters And Publicity, Mr Solomon Soyebi, has said that the commission was not under any pressure to postpone the elections and would still have gone ahead with it.

Mr Soyebi explained that the commission was well over 90% prepared, as it had completed 12, of its 14 time-lined activities.

However, they had to retreat after confirming the rumors which they heard.

He made the statement while speaking on the breakfast programme, Sunrise daily, following the postponement of the 2016 Edo governorship elections, which had drawn so many reactions.

While some have agreed that security was more important than any political aspiration, others have expressed their disappointment, as they believe the independence of the commission, is being compromised by executive bodies in Nigeria.


Explaining the events that ensued, the commissioner said there were initial rumours that security agents had advised the commission to postpone the elections, due to suspected attacks planned towards the event, as well as the Sallah period.

Furthermore, he said the security agents had not consulted INEC or carried them along through their meetings, of a possible postponement.

According to him, “there was no indication of any form” that such actions would occur.

Meanwhile, during the stakeholders meeting held at Benin, 72 hours to the event, the DSS and police were duly represented and they had even reeled out their level of preparations.

The commission, however, maintained its original stance to carry out the election, until it had received an official warning from the security agents.

INEC received the information hours to the election date and according to the commissioner, they got two separate messages, both from the DSS and IGP, to call off the election.

Mr Soyebi also stated that the information was communicated to the public at the last minute because the commission could not rely on rumours or the newspapers.

“The news came very late at night, that we should postpone the election and we had no choice than to go with that,” he added.

Speaking on why they decided to take the emergency action, regardless of their initial plans to go ahead, he said “the advice issued by security officials was enough to make INEC succumb”.

Giving cognisance to safety, he added that “during elections, two things are usually involved. The conduct of the elections and the environment where it is being conducted”.