The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has described the just concluded governorship election in Edo State held on September 21, 2024 and won by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Monday Okpebhole as a nightmare.
This in contained in a statement signed by the party’s acting spokesperson, Muhammed Isahaq released on Thursday in which the PRP expressed concern and dismay by the events that unfolded during the recent off-cycle election in Edo State.
“Despite the high hopes and expectations of Nigerians for a free and fair exercise of their franchise,” the party said “the election turned out to be a nightmare, a stark reminder of the deep-seated problems plaguing our electoral system.
The party said significant resources were invested in the election, but added that it only served to further erode the confidence of the electorates in our democratic process. ”The blatant abuse of processes, laws, and dehumanization of citizens are all stark indicators of the need for urgent electoral reforms,” the statement said
Part of the statement reads: “The PRP believes that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be unbundled and an Electoral Offences Commission with full prosecutorial powers must be established to ensure that electoral malpractices are put to a stop. We cannot continue to tolerate the shenanigans that characterized the Edo election, which undermine our democracy and deny citizens their right to free, fair and credible elections.
“While we commend the overall peacefulness of the election, we must also acknowledge that this peace was achieved at the cost of people’s liberties. The heavy security presence was a conspicuous reminder of the fear and intimidation that many citizens experienced during the elections. We desire a situation where elections can be conducted with minimal security presence, allowing citizens to exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.
“The abysmally low turnout of 20 per cent of registered voters, out of over 2.6 million collected PVCs, is an outright indictment of the electoral system. It is a clear indication of widespread discontent and distrust in the efficiency of our democratic processes.”
