Edo poll: Ex-Pres. Jonathan to INEC, security agencies: Be neutral

Ahead of Saturday’s Edo governorship election, former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged political stakeholders, including the electoral commission and security agencies, to maintain their neutrality before, during, and after the election.

Jonathan also said they would prioritize peace and security in the state.

In a statement by his media adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, in Abuja, Jonathan urged politicians to pursue their interests within the confines of the law and refrain from activities that could undermine the peace and stability of the state.

He said: “It is encouraging that civil rule has endured in the Fourth Republic for 25 years, but we should remind our people that democracy loses its value when citizens cannot exercise their political choices in a free and fair atmosphere.”

Jonathan also urged state institutions involved in managing the election to maintain neutrality, create a level playing field, and ensure a free and fair electoral process.

He said the election places a significant moral burden on state agencies, particularly the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to uphold their constitutional duties as impartial referees in Nigeria’s democratic process.

The statement said: “Security agencies must conduct themselves in optimal neutrality and desist from actions that could alter the setting for a level-playing field and compromise the credibility of the electoral process.

“On its part, the INEC must live up to expectations as an unbiased umpire and inspire confidence in all actors through a transparent voting process.

“There is no doubt that loss of confidence in an election encourages political disputes, social unrests, voter apathy, increased polarisation, and other far-reaching consequences that could undermine development and democratic consolidation.

“For democracy to endure, our leadership recruitment process must be devoid of all forms of manipulation, and state institutions have the obligation to guarantee peaceful, credible, and transparent elections.

“That way, citizens will be able to elect leaders of their choice who they will entrust with the legitimacy to deliver good governance, peace, and prosperity.”