COUNTDOWN TO EDO GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION 2016.

It’s nine days to the Edo State Gubernatorial Election. And like I have expressed in my previous write-ups, the tension is high and its still very high. Accusations and counter accusations at every rally and campaign podium. Arrest of some political apologists and political holigans . The desperation to cling the governor’s seat come 10th of September is in the mind of every aspirant, what happens thereafter is nobody’s business at least not for now.

For the election to be credible in the eyes of men and God, even if we knew that they do not bother about this, is for all the aspirants to play by the rules. No inducement of the electorates to vote in a particular way  against their will and belief or coerce them to favour a particular aspirant.

A small amount of electoral fraud may be enough to change the result and make the process lost credibility. Even if the outcome is not affected, revelation of fraud can have a damaging effect as it can reduce voters confidence in the system. Electoral fraud can occur in advance of voting if the composition of the electorate is altered. The legality of the type of manipulation varies across jurisdictions, as the manipulation of election outcomes is widely considered a violation of the principal of democracy.

Moreover, the electorates should be free to vote their candidate without fear or favour. The candidates should  avoid vote buying by giving money or other rewards to the electorates for  them to vote in a particular  way to favour a particular candidate like what we saw  in the 2015 Presidential Election where voters  were been given money before/after voting for a particular candidate. That was the height of electoral deception I have ever seen.

Concluding therefore, for this election to be credible and not to be desesteemed, is to avoid violence and vote buying. This election must not be marked or marred with violence nor holiganism nor killings or distruction of property nor declared INCONCLUSIVE. It is in our hands. Long live Edo State.