APC Edo Wants INEC to Take Over Local Council Elections

The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ward 7, Egor local government area of Edo State, Mr Kingsley Ogeifa, has called for a law that would empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct council elections nationwide.

Ogeifa made the appeal while reacting to the delay in the distribution of materials in the September 2 Local Government Council (LGC) election in the State.

The chairman said he was disappointed at the shoddy manner in which the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) handled the election process just few months after the INEC conducted a more credible general election:

“I am very disappointed, because it is unfortunate that at this time and age, we could witness such.

“The last election that was conducted by INEC, they arrived here early. Before 8:30 a.m materials had been distributed.

“See what time it is. We are yet to see any sign of materials. It would have been better if INEC had handled this election.

“I think that should be better because the way it is now, most of the State governors believe they can do whatever they want to do because they control the State Electoral Commissions.

“I think INEC taking over will still be better.”

Meanwhile, Mr Brono Ogbanorovia, the chairmanship candidate of the APC for Egor local government area, had described as demoralizing the delay in the commencement of the election.

“We have been here since 7:30 a.m, now it is 10 a.m; we are still expecting materials.

“It is so pathetic; you can imagine the last general election: INEC and materials were here by 7:30 a.m.

“But today, EDSIEC’s office – being a stone throw from this polling centre – they are yet to arrive here.

“This is Olua Primary School; we are yet to receive any of the materials. Security personnel are all here; you can see the crowd.

“People are waiting to cast their vote. We are surprised that at this moment we are still expecting materials.

“If EDSIEC wants to conduct the elections in its office, it should have told us so that we would move down there,” he lamented.

The APC candidate was shocked that after several postponements, EDSIEC could still display this type of organizational shoddiness.

“It shows the electoral body is not competent to conduct election,” he noted.

NAN