Edo Decides: Postponement won’t change outcome – Lawmaker

Mr Jude Idimogu, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Friday said the postponement of the Edo governorship election, though unfortunate, would not change where the pendulum would swing in the poll.

Idimogu (PDP-Oshodi-Isolo II) said that the shift was simply a case of postponing the evil day as the electorate had made up their minds on which direction their votes would go.

He said, “People have made up their minds on the candidate they would vote for; so, postponing it does not change where the pendulum will swing. It is postponing the evil day.”

The lawmaker said that the security reason given for the shift was not tenable and the postponement would result in the election gulping a lot more funds.

He said, “The postponement is very unfortunate; there is no justification for the security threat advanced by the Police and DSS (Department of State Security) as the basis for the call for the shift.

“People have prepared well to cast their votes in support of the candidate of their choice. Resources, energy and time have been spent.

“INEC has spent a lot, only for them, just about three days to the election, to announce the postponement based on security issues.

“For me, there could be more than we know on this issue; it is a big problem,” he said.

Idimogu expressed worry that about 90 per cent of the elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in recent times were inconclusive.

He said there was no guarantee that the same fate would not befall the Edo poll on the rescheduled date.

The lawmaker, however, urged members of the PDP in the state to remain focussed, perfect their strategies and cover yet to be covered areas.

He expressed confidence that the PDP would emerge as winner in the election earlier scheduled for Sept 10, but now shifted to Sept. 28.

The postponement came a day after the police and State Security Service cited security concerns and advised the electoral body to shift the poll.

INEC initially vowed to go ahead with the poll, but hours later, announced its postponement.