PATRICK AHANOR x-rays the controversy being generated by the re-scheduled Edo governorship poll over alleged security threat and the cost implications for government and political stakeholders.
In the Beginning:
It was an all encompassing meeting penultimate Week in readiness for Edo state governorship which was earlier billed to hold on September 10, 2016.
And the list of stakeholders present at ISO event centre, venue of the gathering in Benin City, Edo State capital was not in short supply because according to them, the waiting game would be over with the next 72 hours.
Those present at the meeting which afforded stakeholders the opportunity to interface three days(as it where then) before the poll included, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris who was represented by DIG,(operations) Mr. Joshak Habila.
Others were members of Civil Societies Organizations (CSOs), representatives of political parties, international and local observers.
As expected, the INEC boss, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in his speech did not disappoint the expectant participants when he expressed the commission’s readiness for the poll.
To this end, Yakubu said a total of 18,511 electoral personnel have been recruited from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme and complimented by patriotic Nigerians who have sworn to oath of neutrality and fairness.
Also in agreement with INEC were representatives of political parties and the police.
DIG Joshak Habila who represented the Inspector General of Police said the operatives have deployed gunboats, helicopters, twelve Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), 550 hilux and 25, 000 cops for the exercise in order to forestall breakdown of law and order.
Idris who was unambiguous in his remark assured of the operatives preparedness for the exercise adding, “the gunboats would be stationed at the waterways ; while the helicopters would patrol and observe disadvantage neigbourhood if there is a gathering of miscreants.
“We have deployment units from the conventional police, anti-terrorism, kidnapping each of the patrol vehicle is expected to convey six armed men who will be positioned at strategic locations in order to enhance prompt response to distress calls in the event of emergency,” the police boss added.
The Game Changer:
However, like a bolt out of the blues then came the news from the nation’s capital in Abuja that two security agencies, the Police who were obviously represented at the stakeholders meeting and its sister agency, Department of State Security (DSS) has asked INEC to postponed the poll over planed attack by insurgents.
The security agencies at a joint press briefing, their spokespersons, DCP Don Awunah, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), and Garba Abdullahi, DSS personnel in Abuja, said Edo was among states being earmarked for planned attacks by extremist elements.
The statement reads in part: “The Nigeria Police and Department of State Services, wish to inform the general public that credible intelligence availed the agencies indicate plans by insurgent/extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and soft targets with high population during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations between September 12 and 13, 2016.
“Edo state is amongst the states being earmarked for these planned attacks by the extremist elements. The public would recall that similar threats were issued during the May Labour Day and Democracy Day celebrations as well as the Ed-el-Fitr holidays in July, 2016. However, the security agencies were able to decisively disrupt and thwart the insurgents’ plan.”
“While election is important, the security agencies cannot allow the peace of the country to be disrupted, and we will continue to remain vigilant and ensure consolidation of the successes gained in the current counter-insurgency fight.
The news of postponement undoubtedly caused an air of confusion at the venue of the stakeholders meeting in Benin City as the mood of all the participants including the INEC chief suggested that security agents position may have hit them below the belt.
And having put logistic in place for the election, INEC were initially defiant as a National Commission the commission, Mr. Solomon Soyemi who addrtessed journalist 24 hours later said: “having weigh the consequences of postponement, the commission has come out with a decision to go ahead with the Saturday elections as scheduled.”
Soyemi who disclosed that the decision was reached after a meeting with stakeholders and security personnel said INEC does not take orders from anybody.
However, hours later, the commission succumbed when Soyemi in a briefing announced that the election has been rescheduled to September 28, 2016.
Soyemi while reading out the terse statement said: “the decision to reschedule the poll became inevitable after the commission received official communication at about 6.PM from the police and DSS on the need to reschedule the election.
“The communication indicates, is necessary in view of threats of terrorists activities in Edo State and other States of the Federation during the election and Sallah period.
He further quoted the Security agencies as saying, “The deployment of security personnel nationwide to protect lives and properties will overstretched their capacity to at the same time adequate security for the election.”
Consequently, the INEC Chief said : “the commission notes the request of the security agencies and considering the safety implications of proceeding with the election, the safety of eligible voters, electoral officials including ad-hoc staff and other stakeholders has decided to reschedule Edo governorhip election to Wednesday September 28, 2016.
As expected, the news generated divergent views among political parties and members of Civil Society groups. One of such is the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room who condemned the postponement of the election by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Security.
The group, comprising over 70 civil society organisations, while briefing journalists in Benin City, described the advice as a “gratuitous” and unconstitutional interference in the independence of INEC contained in Section 160(2) 160(2) the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
It, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the security agencies to order and give INEC the necessary support to conduct a credible election.
The group In a statement read by its convener, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, explained that it was shocking that the two security agencies, who were members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security did not formally brief the electoral umpire on the issue to enable it review “whatever security challenges the security services may have claim to have arisen”.
Also, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) traded words over the postponement.
While the PDP state Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih accused governor Adams Oshiomhole of conniving with his Kaduna state counterpart, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai of masterminding the postponement because of what the party described as foreseeable defeat, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said Edo people will use the election to mark PDP final burial in the State.
He said the postponement though painful, but the issue of security threat should not be taken with levity because according to him, some South-South governors in connivance with the PDP had imported 8,000 militants to the Edo state to aid the opposition in its rigging.
Cost implication of Election Postponement.
The rescheduled election was not without costs, financial and otherwise. And by implication, a substantial price was paid by the candidate of KOWA Party, Mr. Thompson Osadolor, being first casualty of the postponement. Osadolor announced his withdrawal from the race barely 48 hours after the postponement.
Osadolor said his decision to quit the race followed the impact of the shift on his campaign arising from the postponement.
The KOWA candidate, who condemned the postponement, lamented that the failure of INEC to hold the election on September 10 ‘destabilized’ his campaign.
“I am not satisfied with the postponement of the election. They (INEC) knew that we would win the election; that was why they postponed the election.
“Having done that, they have destabilised us. That is one of the reasons we withdrew.
“And I met with my campaign team; we decided to harness our campaign with that of the PDP.
“Our manifesto and that of the PDP are very similar and I think we will be able to work together. We reached an agreement with the PDP that we are going to run an inclusive government.
“PDP did not make any financial commitment to us. We do not have any financial agreement,” he stated.
