Timothy Omobude 
The Conference of Non Governmental Organisations, CONGOs, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Inspector General of Police, IGP and other stakeholders to ensure free, fair and credible electoral process as September 21 draws closer in Edo Governorship poll.
The President of the NGO, Comr (Dr) Bartholomew Okoudo, during a press briefing in Benin city, the state capital made this while commenting on burning issues concerning the election.
While urging the electorates to collect their PVCs, he frowned at the arrest and intimidation of political opponents.
According to him; we have decided to address this press conference to draw attention to the issues that seem to be heating up the polity as the elections get closer.
“One of these issues is the uproar from one of the political parties that its leaders and members are being arrested and isolated by the security agencies for reasons that we cannot effectively define.
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“The second is the use of thugs by political parties to intimidate opponents. These are issues that forewarn on the outcome of the September 21st, 2024 Gubernatorial Election in Edo State.
“We inform that the qualitative delivery of the electoral process, ditto, democracy as constituted, is that it enthroned governance in a process that convincingly confirmed the ownership of the final outcome of the election by the people.
“In a political process which is acculturated on the tenets of genuine and sustainable democracy, the citizenry take responsibility for the leadership they get.
“Where there are infractions that undermine the preponderance of the will of the people as expressed through their electoral mandate, the cannons of genuine and sustainable democracy are either abused or out rightly altered.
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“The final expression of this negation of the electoral process is disharmony and irresolvable conflict which alters the kernel of development socially, economically and politically. Transcending Edo State, we are uncomfortable with the preponderance of post-election cases in our country even in the 21st century.
“This trend which deepens our inability to achieve nationhood in Nigeria significantly underpins our underdevelopment. It alters the credibility rating of our electoral delivery and the entire country holistically. It is the underbelly of the prevalence of nepotism in the country’s bureaucracy.
“It underpins the dislocation of having the right hands in the management of our public institutions. It is responsible for poor governance delivery in Nigeria.
“If we must achieve a genuine election that conveys the expectation of the citizenry, it starts with respecting and enthroning the cannons which uphold propriety in the operations of the necessary institutions.
“Drawing from this, we urge the Nigerian Police and other institutions of security governance as well as INEC to approach the election with dexterity and absolute commitment to national interest.
“These institutions must be able to uphold truth irrespective of any intimidation or urge to corruptively manipulate.The arrest and intimidation of political opponents must be stopped for better electoral expression in Edo Governorship election, 2024.
“Actions that negatively impact the electoral process are inimical to the final end of the election. It entirely erodes the acceptance of the political administrative structure that emerges there. Obedience to the government that evolves from that process is forced compliance subtly delivered,” he lamented.
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He further said,”We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately release some members of the State Security Corps arrested and detained by the police in Edo State or if culpable of any crime be charged to Court after a careful review and assessment of all the events in Edo State,
“It is our considered view, that the Nigeria police should make conscious and deliberate efforts to ensure that the good people of Edo State are all carried along by the police in their activities and actions especially as it concerns arresting individuals and indeed, all other security agencies should do the same to help inspire and foster peace and security as we count down to September 21st 2024.”
He said the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces must ensure, that there’s no interference in the upcoming Edo State Governorship elections, as well as give a matching order to all those saddled with responsibilities to tow the path of peace and decorum he added.
