A coalition of INEC-accredited Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), under the platform of the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, issued a stern warning on Friday to politicians and security operatives against actions that could undermine democracy as the Edo gubernatorial election approaches.

During a press conference, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, Director General of the INEC-recognized organizations, emphasized:

“As we approach the Edo state governorship election, it is imperative that we remain vigilant. Our mandate covers the observation of pre-election, election, and post-election activities. We monitor the conduct of the Election Management Body (EMB), as well as the actions of the Police, the NSCDC, the Military, and other security agencies, to ensure they adhere to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“First and foremost, impartiality and neutrality from INEC are paramount. All eligible voters, including those registered during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, must receive their Permanent Voter Cards promptly. INEC’s commitment to fairness and transparency is crucial for the election’s success on September 21st.

“We also urge law enforcement agencies—the police, DSS, NSCDC, and military—to refrain from harassing law-abiding citizens and political party members in Edo state, regardless of their affiliations. Their role is to safeguard the electoral process without fear or favor, in line with established rules of engagement.

“The Judiciary’s integrity is also at stake. We have observed with concern the rampant abuse of court processes and the issuance of conflicting court orders. We call on the Judiciary to uphold equity, fairness, and justice, and to resist any attempts by desperate politicians to manipulate the system or subvert the will of the Edo people.

“Disturbingly, we have received reports of plans by certain individuals to misuse security agencies to manipulate and rig the election. This is unacceptable, and we call on authorities to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those involved to prevent such actions on election day.

“We also condemn any plot to arrest or detain individuals on baseless grounds to remove them from the election environment until after September 21st. Such actions undermine Nigeria’s democratic principles and harm our international reputation, especially as foreign election observers are accredited to monitor our processes.

“Voter inducement, including vote-buying, must be tackled decisively. With rising poverty in Nigeria, this practice has become prevalent in elections. Perpetrators must be swiftly arrested and brought to justice, with public prosecutions serving as a deterrent to future offenders.

“We further denounce the recruitment of youths for election-related violence, including ballot box snatching and thuggery. As a coalition of rights organizations, we are committed to ensuring that the wishes of the Edo electorate are respected. We will not hesitate to call on international bodies, including the US, EU, and Canadian embassies, to impose visa restrictions on offending politicians, state agents, electoral offenders, and their families.

“To ensure a smooth electoral process, we also call on network service providers—MTN, Glo Mobile, and Airtel—to maintain uninterrupted service in Edo state during the election. Any form of sabotage that could disrupt the effectiveness of the BVAS technology or the transmission and viewing of election results will not be tolerated.

“In conclusion, we appeal to all stakeholders—INEC, law enforcement agencies, the Judiciary, and network service providers—to adhere strictly to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022. Only through collective commitment to these principles can we ensure a free, fair, and credible governorship election in Edo state.”