A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State has announced its decision to withdraw from the forthcoming local government election scheduled for Saturday, July 11.
Mr. Osagiede Osaze, Publicity Secretary of the faction led by Mr. Kennedy Odion, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Benin City.
Osaze explained that the group had serious reservations about the credibility and independence of the electoral process, particularly the timetable released by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC).
He noted that these concerns were raised during an Inter-Party Advisory Council meeting with the EDSIEC Chairman, Mr. Jonathan Aifuobhokhan. The faction reportedly demanded that the commission demonstrate full independence and provide adequate time for parties to prepare in line with electoral guidelines.
According to Osaze, the chairman of the faction, Kennedy Odion, was not convinced that the election would offer a level playing field for all participating parties. “There is no point participating in an election whose result has already been determined before the exercise is conducted,” he stated.
However, Osaze clarified that the withdrawal was specific to the local government election and would not affect the party’s participation in future polls, including the 2027 governorship and other elections.
He reaffirmed the faction’s commitment to democratic principles and said the decision was intended to draw attention to the need for transparent and credible electoral processes in the state.
The faction expects EDSIEC to ensure proper deployment of election materials, transparent voting, credible collation of results, and fair declaration of winners.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that efforts to get a reaction from the EDSIEC Chairman were unsuccessful. However, an official of the commission, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that the election would proceed as scheduled. The official dismissed fears of unwholesome practices as unfounded and urged all political parties to participate, assuring them of fair play.
The development comes just days before the polls, highlighting ongoing debates about the readiness and transparency of the electoral process in Edo State.
