CSOs Divided Over Support For Edo Assembly Candidates

A cross section of members of the civil society groups yesterday expressed divergent views on the choice of candidates that would constitute the next state assembly. 

These views were expressed at a press conference under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Edo State ahead of the state House of Assembly poll on Saturday.

One of the stakeholders, Barrister Abraham Oviawe said the present state assembly as constituted was an aberration and a far departure of what can be described as a proper house.

He said the idea of the press conference is to agitate the minds of Edo people and for the people to elect assembly members that will make laws for the good governance of the state and not lawmakers that would come in to bring the government down.

The president of the Talakawas Parliament, Kola Edokpayi, said Edo people must vote in an assembly that is ready and bold to check the excesses of the executive and not a rubber stamp.

“We don’t need a rubber stamp assembly that will be tied, to the apron of the governor. There should be separation of powers. We need assembly that will check the excesses of executive gangsterism,” he said.

The press conference came on the hills of media reports that the opposition political party is plotting to win majority seats in the state assembly and may impeach the governor.

But addressing members at the conference which had in attendance members of the Labour Party, Peoples Democratic Party and civil societies, the convener, Solomon Idiogbe, who read the address on behalf of other stakeholders urged the people to vote for candidates that would represent the interest of the Edo people.

He said that the concerned Edo Citizens are against any group that is interested in coming into the state assembly with the aim of impeaching the state governor or government as constituted.

“There is no doubt there are mixed feelings about the current administration in Edo State as regards policies, programmes and its implementation processes. Most especially the controversies surrounding the inauguration of State House of Assembly members, where duly elected representatives of several constituencies were not inaugurated and till now do not represent their constituencies to perform their constitutional duties as expected.

“It is therefore very pertinent for us at this point to choose and vote for candidates who in turn can represent our collective interest in this next Saturday March 18th 2023 elections.

“Thank God, Governor Godwin Obaseki is not on the ballot of this election as the Edo Governorship election is for next year 2024. That this election is and should be about Edo people voting for those whose agenda is to come and make developmental laws toward a better and prosperous Edo State.

“We condemn in strong terms those whose agenda is to come and pursue personal political vendetta of impeachment and the likes. That the issue of impeachment as being bandied around by some political leaders, actors and their supporters is irresponsible and could potentially lead to crisis even before the elections and will distort the existing peace in our dear state, and we all know that there can never be progress without peace,” he said.