ASHENEWS reports that ahead of the September 21, 2024, off-cycle governorship election in Edo State, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has raised several concerns regarding the pre-election environment, warning of potential threats to the credibility and peaceful conduct of the election.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, TMG Chairman, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), highlighted key issues ranging from violence to the lack of credible political party primaries and voter apathy.
TMG criticized the political parties for conducting undemocratic primaries, describing the process as selections controlled by party elites rather than credible elections. This, they said, leaves Edo citizens with compromised choices at the polls. The group also noted the increase in court cases following these primaries, urging that elections be determined at the polls rather than in courtrooms.
TMG reported incidences of political violence, citing a clash on July 18, 2024, which resulted in the death of a police officer. The group condemned the use of political thugs, destruction of campaign materials, and violence during voter card collection. Rafsanjani noted that the political intolerance being displayed threatens to undermine the credibility and peacefulness of the election.
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Another significant issue raised was the growing concern over vote buying, particularly given the country’s current economic challenges. TMG called on security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to monitor and prosecute vote traders, while urging citizens to refrain from selling their votes.
TMG also expressed concern over non-election-related violence, such as cult clashes and communal crises, which could disrupt the election. The group called on security agencies to maintain peace, ensure voters’ safety, and prevent election-day malpractice such as ballot-box snatching.
In preparation for the polls, TMG announced plans to deploy trained observers across Edo’s local government areas to monitor the election in real-time. The group emphasized that political parties and candidates must conduct their campaigns peacefully and avoid incitement or personal attacks.
Concluding the press conference, TMG urged Edo voters to participate actively in the election, stressing the importance of peaceful conduct and rejecting vote trading. The group called for a transparent, free, and fair election, wishing the people of Edo State a credible outcome on September 21.
