Breaking News: INEC to go ahead with Edo election despite security concerns

Ize Iyamu and Obaseki

The Edo State governorship election is to go ahead, sources in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC despite security concerns raised by the Police and the Department of State Services, DSS.

Confidential sources said on Thursday morning that the commission took the decision go ahead the Edo election after consultation with the security agencies and meetings among senior officials of INEC. A statement to that effect learnt is being prepared and is to be issued within hours. Controversy stoked preparations for the Edo elections on Wednesday when the police and DSS issued a joint statement advising INEC to postpone the election on the claim that they had intelligence reports of a planned attack by insurgents or terrorists in some states between September 12 and 13. The claim was immediately rebuffed by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP which said that the planned attack while not specific to Edo State, was timed after the September 10, election. The postponement was, however, welcomed with reservations by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state who said it was only a postponement of the final burial of the opposition, PDP.