We heartily congratulate
the Governor -Elect of Edo State and APC gubernatorial candidate in the
September 28, 2016 keenly contested elections, Mr. Godwin Nosaghenese Obaseki.
We are
convinced based on monitoring reports at our disposal that Obaseki fought a
good battle and earned a good victory with the active backing of members, leaders
and stakeholders on our great party led by Gov. Adams Oshiomhole.
We thank the
good people f Edo State for trouping out without losing interest, despite an
18-day postponement of the polls for security concerns, seizing the moment and ensuring
that power remained with the electorate to be exercised in the interest of the
state.
We urge
victorious Obaseki to begin the process of total reconciliation within the fold
of our structures in Edo State, even as we look forward to the choice of
capable men and women to help him achieve the twin campaign goals of industrializing
Edo State and empowering the people economically.
We have tremendous
respect for democracy and the bill of rights contained d in the constitution of
the federal Republic of Nigeria. To that extent we recognize the right of any
group to rejoice and another to protest, even when there is nothing genuine to
protest as the nation witnessed one of the freest nd fairest election in he nation in recent times, raising
hope for further incremental changes in the conduct of elections in the
country.
We commend
the security agencies for rising up to the occasion, securing the state and
ensuring that the process went on smoothly.
We commend
INEC for a good attempt and a successful conduct, but acknowledge that there is
room for improvement. The accreditation hiccups recorded by journalist s and
the commotion recorded as a n extension of that at the INEC state collation
centre, which was indeed too small for such an event are avoidable.
The simultaneous
accreditation and voting mode saved a lot of time, but the new challenges of posed by the method
should be fine-tuned and perfected for future elections, even as we urge
continuous voter education on the part of INEC.
We commend the 18 losers in the election for
their comportment and mature conduct and trust that they would in their
earliest convenience extend send their congratulations to the clear winner of the
election Mr. Obaseki.
In the
unlikely event of going to the tribunal against the conduct of this superb
election, we trust that only an orderly assemblage of evidence and martial of
case (s) in the election tribunals on the part of litigants and professional
adjudication with only justice in iew on
the part of judicial offices will prevail.
We urge the
people of Edo State to continue to appraise information received with
intelligence, even when the aim is to misinform.. In this wise we condemn the
false statement made by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu the PDP candidate in the election on
Silverbird 93.7fm Benin City in the throes of the election last Wednesday that
Gov Adewunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Gov. Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State
where in Edo State during the election, when both were nowhere near the state
and one of them was abroad. .
We note that
even though there are no constitutional barrier to the attendance of Ambode, who
was the Chairman of the APC National Committee on Edo State election, and El Rufai,
facts are sacred ad those who seek to occupy positions of responsibility ought
to respect this and not mislead their people to wrong-headed actions. It is our
fervent prayers that the next APC administration which will run for November
12, 20016 to November 11, 2020 will be a successful one and will open the doors
for resounding victories of APC in the next gubernatorial elections in Ondo and
Anambra States.
For: ALL
PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC)
Okelo Madukaife
State Publicity
Secretary