THE Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), yesterday, declared that Governor Godwin Obaseki’s victory in the just concluded Edo State governorship election would galvanise the South-South governors to work towards a common agenda for development of the Niger Delta region.
Its National Chairman, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd.), made the assertion while speaking to journalists in Uyo on the sidelines of the emergence of Obaseki, who was re-elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Nkanga stressed that Obaseki’s reelection signified a better future for the zone, as the governors would now discuss issues of common interest to the South-South, especially political issues, since all states of the zone have now come under the PDP.
He recalled that when the South-South governors initiated the Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta (BRACED) Commission, the Niger Delta people were happy that development would be better facilitated until zone lost Edo State to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Besides, the Coalition of Accredited Civil Society Domestic Election Observers’ Group for the Edo State Governorship Election and Yiaga Africa, have urged all political parties to accept the results of the poll in good faith.
Spokesman of the coalition, Victor Kaku and Co-Chairmen, Yiaga Africa WTV Working Group, Aisha Abdullahi and Ezenwa Nwagwu, explained at the post-election media briefing shortly after Obaseki was declared winner, that the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were consistent with their Parallel Vote Tabulation Estimates (PVTE).
According to the citizen-led group, APC should receive between 39.1 per cent and 46.3 per cent of the vote, while the PDP should receive between 52.5 per cent and 59.7 per cent of the votes.
Meanwhile, the Network for Best Practice and Integrity in Leadership (NEBPRIL) commended INEC, security agencies, political parties and the voters on the successful conduct of the Edo State governorship election, urging stakeholders to allow the electoral gains to be a benchmark for subsequent elections.
In a statement issued in Abuja by its chairman, Victor Afam Ogene, said, “Without doubt, the Edo governorship poll was conducted in a manner that underlies the importance of electoral reforms and entrenchment of democratic values.
“INEC was swift and decisive before, during and after the election and political parties kept their promise of promoting peace, while the voters and security agencies created a positive and safe atmosphere during the exercise.”
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