‘Flaws in Edo gov election not enough for cancellation’

The National Conscience Party (NCP) candidate in the Sept. 28 Edo governorship election, Pastor Peters Omoragbon, said that the flaws committed during the election were not strong enough to cancel the exercise.

He said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

Omoragbon said the election was one of the best conducted so far in the country, stating that those calling for its cancellation were doing so in bad faith.

He noted: “The Sept. 28 Edo governorship election is one of the best done so far in Nigeria. The exercise was devoid of killings and fighting.

“We have witnessed other elections, including common local government election in some states where people were killed or kidnapped. No single soul was lost in the Edo election and I think that was great.

“During campaigns and election, I and my supporters did not receive any threat from other party members.

“There were some flaws though, but not strong enough to cancel the election. I give INEC 96 per cent for performance. Those calling for cancellation are doing so because they lost. If APC had lost the election, they will cry fowl also and call for cancellation.”

“I and my supporters were on ground, the election was free and fair.”

Omoragbon congratulated the governor-elect, Mr Godwin Obaseki, and urged him to form an all inclusive government with the best Edolites from all groups.

The NCP candidate advised Obaseki against the winner takes all syndrome, stressing that he was elected by Edo people and not his political party.

“Obaseki has won the election, he should carry out all his campaign promises. His victory is for Edo people.”

He added that the Edo election came in as a role model for other states and urged losers to join hands in building the state.

“Any aggrieved person should go to court. Election to serve the people should not be a do or die affair. Political party in power should encourage their members in authority to give dividends of democracy to the electorate,” he stated.

Corroborating Omoragbon on the election in a separate interview, the NCP national chairman of NCP, Malam Yunusa Tanko, said the party was satisfied with the conduct of the election.

Tanko said they were happy as the exercise was crises-free, stressing that the party had accepted the result of the election.

“There was orderliness in Edo governorship election. For us in NCP, we are satisfied with the outcome of the election. I commend INEC for a job well done. I give them 85 per cent for their performance. I know they can improve on this in other elections

coming up.”

The NCP chairman also congratulated Obaseki for the victory and urged him to improve on the lives of Edo people by avoiding anti-people policies.