The Edo State Government has criticized the local chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for demanding the cancellation of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The CVR is set to take place from Monday, May 27, to Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
In a statement by Chris Osa Nehikhare, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, the government described the APC’s demand as “ridiculous, misleading, and irresponsible.”
It accused the APC of attempting to undermine the democratic process and disrespecting eligible voters in Edo State, and further criticized the party for what it termed “arrogant statements and grandstanding” and questioned their motives.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the incredibly ridiculous, misleading, and irresponsible statement by the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) demanding the cancellation of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) between tomorrow, Monday, 27 May and Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
“The spurious and insensitive statement is not just another failed attempt by the APC to subvert the democratic process but a slap on the faces of all eligible voters in Edo State.
“Instead of the APC empathizing with the electoral umpire for the damage done to it office as a result of the torrential rain of Friday night, they are sauntering around with arrogant statements, grandstanding, and demanding the cancellation of an exercise that is meant to allow the registration of unregistered voters over baseless claims of compromised INEC officials and biased ad hoc staff.
“We are left to wonders how else the APC plans to get the electorate to vote for their ineloquent and camera shy candidate. Unless of course they have come to the realisation that their candidate is a bad sell that cannot be marketed.
“The APC must know that for this forthcoming election, there will be neither rigging nor writing of results. Edo people are not unaware of some of the rigging strategies in the past and will come out in their numbers to vote for the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and will thereafter stay at their various polling units to defend their votes just as they did during the 2020 governorship election which secured the second term victory for Governor Godwin Obaseki.
“Instead of resorting to desperate and unconventional campaigns against INEC and the CVR exercise, the APC must redirect those energies to mobilizing their supporters to come out enmasse to partake in the democratic process. Just maybe that way they can have an opportunity to reawaken their completely comatose party in Edo State.
“As a government, we are committed to upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring that every eligible person in the State has the opportunity to register and exercise their franchise. We reject any attempts to undermine the electoral process and will continue to work closely with INEC and other stakeholders to facilitate a transparent and credible voter registration exercise.
“We urge the APC to also toe this noble path and refrain from resorting to baseless allegations and political theatrics in a desperate attempt to sow confusion and market its candidate, who had to opt for a ‘miracle centre’ to obtain a High School certificate at the age of 36 and still failed.
“We are confident that Edo people know the qualities, pedigree and credentials expected of their State Governor, and who is the fit and proper person to govern them and will decide with their votes on September 21, 2024.
“Unintelligent lies and propaganda is not a campaign strategy.”