Yiaga Africa,Others Call for Review of the Edo 2024 Governorship Election
From Imafidon OSAZUA (BENIN)
Stakeholders again called for the review of the just-concluded Edo State Governorship election, saying that several unwholesome acts undermined the integrity of the election.
Recall that Yiaga Africa has earlier condemns acts of violence and disruption of voting and results collation process by political thugs and hoodlums, particularly violence directed at voters and election officials, extending its sympathies to citizens and polling officials who suffered severe injuries and loss of valuable properties due to the attacks and violence.
Yiaga Africa and the Justice Development and Peace Centre (JDPC) Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City on Thursday maintained that the election was compromised.
Speaking in Benin on the post- election statement on the September 2024 Edo Governorship election entitled, "Edo State Governorship Election Fails the Integrity Test/Standards," Dr. Aisha Abdullahi and Samson Itodo, Chair of the 2024 Edo Election and Executive Director of Yiaga Africa said the review is important for future election.
AThe duo maintained that there is an urgent need for political actors to change their attitude towards politics and stressed the need for fundamental electoral reform to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
AAisha Abdullahi of Yiaga Africa identified a lack of transparency in the results collation process, adding that this development led to the manipulation of results.
"While key processes such as accreditation, voting, counting, and recording of results at the polling unit substantially complied with procedures, the results collation process was compromised by the actions of some biassed INEC officials in connivance with other actors.
This manipulation severely undermines the overall integrity of the election," Aisha said.
On his part, Rev. Fr. Benedict Onwugbenu, Director of JDPC for the Benin Archdiocese, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to go back and review the Edo Governorship election outcome.
JDPC, which stands for Justice, Development, and Peace Commission, is a Catholic organisation dedicated to promoting social justice, development, and peace.
