By Henry Umoru

ABUJA— CIVIL society groups, under the aegis of Coalition of Independent Domestic Election Observers, yesterday,  called for the cancellation of the just concluded local government elections in Edo State, describing the exercise as one of the worst elections in the nation’s history.

Addressing journalists in Abuja,  Coordinator, Centre for Strategic Conflict Management, Dr. Onyike Isaac also called for the immediate sack of Chairman, Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, Mr. Solomon Ogoh,  for what he termed his incompetence to conduct free, fair and credible council polls in the 18 local government areas of the state.

Isaac said that 42 civil society groups and other stakeholders were accredited to observe the elections held on April 20, and subsequently, April 24 and 25, respectively, alleging that it was observed that EDSIEC chairman was not prepared and also lacked the professional experience to conduct the elections.

He said: “We recommend the immediate removal or sack of the Chairman, EDSIEC, for inability to conduct free, fair and credible council elections. Pro-active measures should be put in place to prevent future logistics challenges and appointment of inexperienced persons to man such a sensitive position. Voters register should be revalidated and displayed for two months before the elections.

“Conducting elections in riverrine communities portends certain challenges, which EDSIEC should reflect upon to  ensure effective distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials for future elections.

“We strongly posit that elections at local government levels should not be the prerogative of state governments but rather, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should supervise the process and conduct of council  elections to minimise electoral frauds at the local level.”

Isaac said that in the course of carrying out their duties, they were denied access to the EDSIEC Chairman, adding, “for obvious reasons,  which we believe had to do with the tendency to rig the election in favour of the ruling party, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Edo State.

“Edo State council elections were  one of the worst elections ever conducted in the history of Nigeria’s democratic process.

‘’We observed with great dismay that the Chairman and the entire staff of EDSIEC were not fully prepared for the elections. They also lacked the professional experience to conduct the elections.  The distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials was largely delayed and distorted. We observed a short fall in the distribution of election materials throughout the 18 councils. In some polling units, result sheets were not supplied.

“Adequate measures were not taken to address the administrative and logistical challenges in order to prevent unforeseen circumstances that may affect the expeditious distribution of election materials. Apparently, the late arrival of election materials was observed throughout the three senatorial districts of the state, which eventually led to late commencement of accreditation and voting in the entire councils.

“Voters accreditation commenced very late about 2: 30 pm and proper voting commenced at 4pm at most of the polling stations visited, while in some places such as Isako Unit I Primary School and Sule Primary School Akpana unit 013 Ivhiefa Akpana accreditation and voting were carried out simultaneously.”