Edo 2024: Any attempt by APC to rig election ‘ll trigger a crisis in Nigeria, Obaseki insists

The Edo State Government has condemned attempts by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State to negatively spin comments made by State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, where he warned that if the APC does not allow for a free and fair election in the State, it will be a recipe for crisis in Nigeria.

 

In a statement, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, who clarified the view expressed by the governor during a recent political meeting in the State, accused the opposition party of trying to exploit the instrument of violence to influence the outcome of the September 21 governorship election in the State.

 

Nehikhare said the governor spoke at a stakeholders meeting, on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Benin City, the Edo State capital and warned that: “If a free and fair election is not allowed to hold sway in Edo State on September 21, 2024, it will trigger a major crisis in Nigeria.”

 

The commissioner said: “The attention of the Edo State Government has been drawn to the negative spin that the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is fruitlessly attempting to put to the comments made by His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, at a stakeholders meeting, on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.”

 

“For the records, we want to restate the comments of the governor on that occasion which is that: “If a free and fair election is not allowed to hold sway in Edo State on September 21, 2024, it will trigger a major crisis in Nigeria.”

 

“Recall that on Thursday, July 18, 2024, ahead of the rally to inaugurate the APC National Campaign Council, in Benin City, which was held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, the party assembled a large number of people believed to be thugs, most of them bearing firearms around the precincts of the Benin Airport, on Airport Road, Benin City, to cause mayhem in the State, resulting in the unfortunate death of a police officer, Inspector Akor Onuh attached to MOPOL 45 Abuja and the wanton destruction of properties and injuries to several citizens who were going about their lawful businesses.

 

He added, “The mob then moved around the city, attacking other institutions, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Secretariat, inflicting violence and terror on the lawyers in their secretariat, with one of the lawyers, Mr. Israel Idahosa, being severely injured and his property destroyed.

 

“They also intimidated and harassed private citizens who were putting on any material that had the insignia of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, within the Benin metropolis.

 

“As they say, the morning shows the day and the APC has clearly shown their plan for the September 21 governorship election in the State, which is to cause mayhem, make the State ungovernable, and take advantage of the chaos to manipulate the forthcoming governorship election.”

 

Nehikhare noted, “We however want to advise the APC to, for once, read the mood of the nation and understand that with the current hardship, unattainable cost of living, and pervasive hunger in the country, a slightly irresponsible behavior by the political class can ignite a crisis that will have a domino effect and cause a conflagration across the nation.

 

“This note of caution is even more appropriate with the ominous threat of a nationwide protest with the potential to degenerate into a widespread breakdown of law and order.”

 

He urged residents in the State to go about their activities lawfully, noting, “While we urge all Edo people to go about their lawful businesses without fear, we call on the Nigerian Police to do its job and apprehend the hoodlums, most of whom have been positively identified and captured in videos, carrying firearms at the location of the crisis.”

 

“The Edo State Government, through its robust security video surveillance, is ready to supply these videos taken in real-time to help the Police in their investigation.”

However, The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the candidacy of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the duly nominated and authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

 

In the ruling on Monday, Justice, A. M Lamido-led three-man panel dismissed the case brought before it by the reinstated Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, upholding the ruling of the trial court which affirmed Ighodalo as the valid candidate.

 

The Federal High Court had ruled that the appellant did not satisfy the condition precedent (internal dispute resolution mechanism) before instituting the action and therefore declared that the suit was premature.

 

Upholding the judgement of the trial court, the panel held that the suit was premature, noting that the position of the lower court was unassailable.

 

 

The court, therefore, awarded a cost of 1,000,000 against Shaibu and in favor of Ighodalo, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and two others.

 

According to the ruling, the appellant failed to comply with provisions of Article 9 (g) (h) (i). NYAME V. INEC that condition precedent must be complied with before filing an action.

 

The court noted that failure to comply with the provision of Article 9 (g), (h), and (i) is not one that can just be glossed over as it goes to the issue of jurisdiction.

 

Resolving against the appellant and in favour of the respondents, the court held that “the suit is premature” and “the position of the lower court is unassailable.”

 

The Appeal Court also stated that where the authenticity of a document relied on is challenged, oral evidence ought to be called to resolve the issue, adding that the conduct of an election as well as results are presumed regular until the contrary is proved.

 

“No evidence from the affidavit of the appellant to show votes were allocated to the 4th respondent. The appellant failed to prove his case as held by the trial court. The issue is resolved against the appellant and in favour of the respondents.

 

“Judgment of trial court is hereby affirmed. A cost of 1,000,000 is awarded against the appellant and in favour of the respective respondents,” the court ruled.

 

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