The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has emphasized the need for a credible, free, and fair governorship election in Edo State scheduled for September 21. Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the CBCN, stressed that only a credible election could result in responsible leadership and urged all candidates to avoid violence and malpractice. He called on electoral officials to remain impartial.
In parallel, the Transparency for Electoral Systems Advocacy (TEGA) has raised serious concerns about alleged corruption involving some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State. TEGA accused these officials of selling uncollected Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to politicians, which could compromise the election’s integrity.
TEGA’s petition to INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu highlights accusations of electoral officers meeting with PDP leaders and denying PVCs to members of other parties, including APC and Labour Party supporters. They have called for a personal intervention by Yakubu to ensure fair distribution of PVCs, citing instances of alleged misconduct, including a viral video showing the distribution of PVCs to PDP leaders.
