The Independent National Electoral Commission has
said that it would not postpone Saturday’s
governorship election in Edo State for the West African
Senior School Certificate Examination scheduled to
hold on the same day.
The National Chairman of the commission, Prof.
Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this during a
stakeholders’ meeting held in Benin, the state capital.
A total of 1,742 candidates are expected to sit
Mathematics 1 and 2 papers on September 10, a
development which sparked a protest by some of the
affected candidates and parents on Monday.
There had also been calls for the postponement of the
poll to a later date to allow the students exercise their
rights to vote.
But the national commissioner, who spoke through the
Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sam Olumekun,
said INEC had given adequate notification on the date
for the election prior to the date fixed for the
examinations.
He explained, “It is important to draw your attention to
the fact that INEC gave notice of this election on
March 2, 2016. There was no registration for WASSCE
candidates as of that time.”
The INEC boss noted that the commission had held a
robust discussion with the examination body and
security agencies on the issue, where it was agreed
that the examination should be moved to Ondo and
Delta states, as holding it simultaneously may create
security challenges.
Yakubu said, “The issue is, basically, security. So, the
security agencies advised WAEC accordingly that
giving room for people to move around may pose
some challenges because many people will cash in on
the situation.
“Permit me to remind you also that there are about
1.9 million registered voters in Edo State, whose
interest also should be taken care of. At the end of
that meeting, we agreed that the exams be shifted
outside Edo State to places that are nearby.”
“Indeed, WAEC had even concluded arrangements to
do this. It suggested Ore, Agbor and one other place.
Yes, there might be some inconveniences for the
students to travel outside Edo State; but, of course, it
is not too much pain to bear if you have your state at
heart.”
“I do not think we need to suspend an election
because WAEC is going to conduct GCE. It is not
SSCE but GCE for those who did not do well in the
past exams,” the INEC chairman added.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
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