Police advise INEC to postpone Edo election

Barely three days to the Edo state governorship election, Police have advised the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the poll.

The Department of State Security (DSS) also wants the election to be shifted.

The exercise slated for September 10, they advised should not hold as planned citing security threat as the reason.

At a joint press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the Force Spokesman, Mr. Don Awunah, said that credible intelligence available to the agencies indicated plans by insurgents and extremists to attack vulnerable communities.

Awunah said that Edo state was among the states being earmarked for the planned attacks by the extremists between Sept. 12 and 13 respectively.

He said that while election was important, security agencies cannot allow the peace of the country to be disrupted.

“We will continue to be vigilant and ensure consolidation of the successes gained in the current counter-insurgency fight.

“It is in these regard that we are appealing to INEC which has the legal duty to regulate elections in the country to consider the need for possible postponement of the date of the election,” he said.

He said that the postponement would afford security agencies to deal decisively with the envisaged terrorist threats.

“While the police and DSS remain mindful of the inconveniences this request may cause stakeholders, it is our strong resolve that security agencies need not be spdistacted from ensuring a peaceful Nigeria” he said.

The spokesman assured Nigerians that security agencies in the country would continue to remain focused and committed.

“The attention of security agencies should be drawn to any observed unusual movements or actions by groups or individuals in your neighbourhoods,”he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari and a host of party members stormed Benin city on Tuesday for the grand finale of the campaign of the All Progressives Party (APC).

The chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have also prepared for their final campaign.

Mr Godwin Obaseki is the candidate of APC and Pastor Ize-Iyamu is the candidate of PDP.


NAN