Lagos – The Labour Party (LP), Lagos Chapter, has urged INEC to sensitise the eligible voters to the September 10 governorship elections in Edo State.
The party Chairman, Mr Biodun Popoola, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that previous failure of INEC to hold conclusive elections should challenge the commission to avert any hitches in the Edo election.
Cue in audio 1
“ As it is today, apart from not being able to successfully conduct election, they have not come out to enlighten Nigerians.
“They need to go back to Edo, where they actually supposed to do this election, involve the stakeholders, enlighten people, look for things that are not yet done put them straight.
“Talk to people, give a time table as regards what and how they want to try and reshape the community that wants to enjoy this services that they are bound by the constitution to render.
“And more than ever make it not an election that the winner takes all but a win-win situation where people can collectively see it as not a worst situation but an opportunity to just vote, who they think would do the job the right way.
“As it is today, what is the timetable of INEC, what exactly have they told us about Edo?
“How have they outlined what they will be doing? How have they gone from places to places having a village square meeting to involve the stakeholders in conducting maybe, this time a free and fair election?
“ We have a quiet and silent INEC who is not seen at all times either working towards the given mandate or trying to improve the given mandate.
“ We have a non performing INEC. Either they do not have the tools readily or perhaps they do not have a clear understanding of the concepts and the dictates of what that particular institution is meant to do in a given society that runs or it’s trying to run a democratic institution.
“ I think they need to re-brand that institution.We need to look at the Constitution again; I will expect a constitution that is relatively flexible and in tune with the time.’’
Cue out audio 1
Popoola, who was the 2015 deputy governorship candidate of LP in the state, said the Edo governorship election would be an opportunity for INEC to redeem its image. (NAN)