Edo 2024: INEC Meets CSOs, PWDs, Charges Them To Be Actively Involved In Election Process
By Oke-Oghene Orogun, Benin City
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has met with members of various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Persons living with Disabilities ahead of the Edo governorship election scheduled for September 2024.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Anugbum Onuoha who charged the CSOs to be actively involved in the election process, noted that, the meeting was to familiarise himself with all the CSOs and PWDs in the state having just resumed as the REC in Edo.
Dr Onuoha said the commission would not leave any strata of the society behind as they prepare for the September governorship election hence the engagement between the commission and the CSOs and other groups.
He explained that inclusivity was part of INEC’s mandate to ensure that all critical stakeholders were carried along in the electoral process and the upcoming governorship election in the state.
He stated that the CSOs served as a link between the people and government adding that, CSOs help to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
The REC urged the CSOs to be actively involved in the electoral process by following up all INEC’s activities leading to the governorship election in September.
Onuoha, who took time to explain INEC’s preparedness ahead of the governorship election in September, said the commission had monitored party primaries and published form EC9C in all the local government areas and carried out training.
He disclosed that the next item on the timetable was a campaign that would commence on April 24 adding that, the commission was also ready to monitor the campaigns in the state.
He also charged the CSOs to detach themselves from politicking itself and focus on their mandate of being the watch-dogs and sensitising the public on the importance of having a voter’s card.
According to him, this meeting is to familiarise the CSOs and PWDs groups in the state and to charge you all to be actively involved in the process leading to the election.
