Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has tasked the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commissioner to conduct an investigation into the delay in the arrival of election materials in the Benin metropolis with a view to forestalling a repeat in other parts of the country.
Speaking with newsmen in Benin City yesterday, Oshiomhole said “I ask Jega to conduct an investigation into why for four hours, materials were not delivered in Benin City. That investigation would help determine why some people were disenfranchised.”
Oshiomhole however commended the INEC Chairman and the State Resident Electoral Commissioner for conducting a free and fair election in the state.
He said “I believe that the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Geidam demonstrated uncommon quality of leadership. He showed commitment and courage to duty. Under tension he maintained his cool.”
The Governor said “some of the people posted to Edo are people that cannot be entrusted with responsible positions. I have argued that anybody in INEC who has conducted an election that was annulled has no basis to get involved in any other election.
“It is unacceptable for INEC to have been able to deliver materials to Edo Central and North that are over two hours drive, how can they explain that they could not deliver materials to areas that are within five to ten minutes drive”?
Oshiomhole maintained that one outcome of the election was the unanimous agreement of the people that his government deserves a second term.
“Edo people from the South to the North to the Central have spoken as one. This shows that all efforts of some people to whip up ethnicity failed woefully. Edo elections have shown that merit alone would determine the pattern of voting.
“The way the people have voted have made my job easier. I will build on the existing bridges of unity and sustain our developmental agenda”, he said.
While expressing appreciation to the president for his adherence to the principle of one man one vote which facilitated the conduct of a free and fair election in the state, the Governor called on other political parties to support his government to take the state to the next level.
