By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The Network of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (NOCSON), a leading civil rights group in Edo State, has called on other political parties in the state to borrow a leaf from the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for conducting a free, fair, credible and transparent gubernatorial primaries in the state.
The appeal was contained in a statement signed by its president, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi and available to newsmen in Benin City.
Comrade Ogbidi said that the civil rights group who led other civil society organizations to monitor the exercise, said the party has demonstrated a high sense of maturity by following the party’s laid down procedures in conducting its primaries.
According to him “Following our close observations at the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), held on the 22nd of February 2023, at the Lawn Tennis Court, in Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, the Edo State capital, we observed that the process was highly coordinated, peaceful, transparent to all present, following the Party’s constitution and guidelines and in line with the global best practices.
“This is by allowing independent observers access to the process.
“The process flow was as follow: security check of delegates, accreditation of delegates, movement of delegates from accreditation venue (Edo Hotel Macque) to venue of primaries, (Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium) opening formalities, brief manifesto by aspirants present, voting by delegates, sorting of votes, counting of votes, recording of votes on result sheet, declaration of result, acceptance speech by the candidate, and closing formalities.
“The Primaries produced Dr Asue Ighodalo as the winner and was announced by the representative of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party”,
Comrade Ogbidi said that the Network of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (NOCSON) led other civil society organisations, both affiliates and Non affiliates, to the exercise, which include Conference of Non-Govermental Organisations (CONGOS), Youth Impart For Good Governance (YIGG), Edo Forum Against Impunity, (EDOFAI), and Freedom Ambassadors Organisations (FAO).
The president of the group who said that their comprehensive reports will be made available soon to the public, opined that when laid down rules are followed to the letter, there will always be a peaceful outcome of any exercises.
He appealed to other political parties in the state to always play by the rules of the game to avoid unnecessary rancour noting that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour.
He said theirs as a civil rights group, they own it as a duty to observe and draw the attention of those in power to know what they should do in case they are not doing it, and if they happen to do what is right too, it also behooves on them to inform the public too.
