TMG Raises Alarm Ahead of Edo Governorship Election
Maryam Aminu
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has sounded the alarm over several threats to the integrity of the upcoming governorship election in Edo State, slated for September 21, 2024.
At a press conference held on Tuesday September 10, 2024, at the CISLAC Conference Room in Abuja, TMG Chairman Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) highlighted multiple concerns that could undermine the credibility and safety of the electoral process.
Among the issues raised were the undemocratic conduct of political party primaries, rising political thuggery, and the spread of violence and hate speech.
Rafsanjani pointed to recent incidents, such as voter intimidation during the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and the murder of a police officer in a political clash in July, as stark examples of the escalating tension in the state.
TMG strongly condemned the use of armed thugs to intimidate political opponents and destroy campaign materials, warning that such actions could severely disrupt the electoral process.
The group also expressed concerns about incidents of unrelated violence, including clashes among cult groups and communal conflicts, that could further destabilize the environment leading up to the election.
TMG criticized the growing practice of vote trading amid economic hardship, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take swift action against those involved. The group also called for political parties to ensure fair and transparent primaries, noting a troubling trend of election outcomes being decided by court rulings rather than by the electorate’s choice.
The group called on all relevant stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, and citizens to actively work towards a peaceful and credible election.
TMG announced plans to deploy a comprehensive observation mission, with trained observers stationed throughout the state to monitor and report any irregularities.
Rafsanjani appealed to the electorate to reject vote-buying and fully engage in the democratic process to safeguard the integrity of the election and uphold democratic principles.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, during a mock accreditation aimed at test running facilities for the election on Tuesday, has assured the people of Edo state that the Commission will do everything possible to uphold the integrity of the September 21 governorship election in the state.
