The
Saturday, September 10th's upcoming governorship election in Edo state
between APC's Obaseki and PDP's Ize-Iyamu, might been postponed after
statements by Police and DSS.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been
directed by the the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria
Police Force (NPF) to postpone Saturday’s governorship election in Edo
state.
According to TheCableNews,
while speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Don Awunah,
the police spokesman, and Garba Abdullahi, an agent of the DSS,
disclosed that security concerns was the reason for the request.
“The Nigeria police and the DSS wish to inform the general
public that credible intelligence availed to the agencies indicate plans
by insurgent/extremist elements to attack vulnerable communities and
soft targets with high population during the forthcoming Sallah
celebrations between 12 and 13 September, 2016. Edo state is among the
states being earmarked for these planned attacks by the extremists
elements.
“It is in regard of this that we are appealing to INEC, which
has legal duty to regulate elections in the country, to consider the
need for possible postponement of the date of the election in Edo state
in order to enable security agencies deal decisively with the envisaged
terrorists threats.
“While the police/DSS remain mindful of the inconveniences this
request may cause the various political stakeholders, it is our strong
resolve that security agencies need not be distracted from ensuring a
peaceful and secure Nigeria now and always,” a statement read by Awunah on behalf of the agencies stated.
The INEC has not yet made an official statement to this effect if
they will adhere to the Police and DSS's advise on the postponement of
the gubernatorial election.
