Be Neutral In Edo Poll, Wike Charges INEC, Security Agencies

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to be apolitical in the September 19, 2020, governorship election in Edo State.
Wike, who made the call while speaking on a live Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, yesterday, charged the electoral umpire to use the Edo election to correct its previous mistakes, saying that Nigeria, as the giant of Africa, should model free and fair poll for other nations.
The Rivers State governor, who is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party National Campaign Council for Edo governorship election, said the poll would be a walk-over for Governor Godwin Obaseki.
A statement by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, quoted the governor as saying that the success of the Edo election would be determined by the roles played by security agencies and INEC, explaining that, “This is so because they often interfere with electoral processes, which manifests as scuttling of the will of the electorate.”
He added, “I do not know if I have 100 per cent confidence in INEC for now but maybe, as the days go on, what we will see may give us hope.
“Nigeria prides itself to be the giant of Africa, and we go to other countries to observe elections and adjudge them as free and fair. But we find it difficult to do the same here. We must show one good thing people can learn from us.