By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The Network of Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (NOCSON) has asked the Nigeria Police to ensure that the perpetrators of the attack at the Benin Airport be brought to book irrespective of the political parties they might be.
President of the group, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi made the appeal while speaking on what he titled “Critical issues concerning the Nigeria Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State” in Benin.
He said it is a pity that 26 days after the incident, the police have not been able to arrest anyone.
Recall that one Inspector Onu Akor, an Orderly to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate was killed by a bullet during the attack.
Ogbidi said the state will be sitting on a keg of gun powder if those who took part in the dastardly act are not arrested and brought to book especially now that the state is about participating in an election.
“This delay, by the Nigeria Police to taking very crucial decision have cast a shadow of doubt on the capacity and professionalism of the Edo State command to handle issues in the coming days as we approach the gubernatorial election.
“Edo people will have no oita of confidence if the needed action is not taken immediately”, Ogbidi added.
The President of the group further called on the Inspector General of Police, Koyode Egbetokun and other security agencies to up their games and build up the confidence of the people by arresting the culprits.
Speaking on the forthcoming governorship election and the INEC preparedness, Ogbidi appealed to the body to ensure free, fair and credible election in the state.
According to him “We want to use this opportunity to charge the INEC to conduct an election that is free, fair and credible such that no party will be willing to contest its result in court as the process will be visibly transparent in line with global best practices and the Nigeria Electoral Act as amended.
“The election must be a deviation and of great improvement on the 2023 general elections where BIVAS was alleged to be highly manipulated and electronic transmission of result was jettisoned at the eleventh hour owing to a purported technical glitch after spending billions of tax payers money on the process”
Ogbidi, while commending INEC on their professionalism during the last voters registration exercise in the state, urged the Commission to ensure that all PVCs and documents necessary for Edo voters to vote are available and worked upon so that no body will be disenfranchised owing to their inadequacies.
