A socio-economic group of professionals from Edo State, Unuedo Renaissance, has advised political parties taking part in next month’s off-cycle governorship election to ensure a free and fair process.
The group equally asked candidates to present their vision and focus on issues that would drive development and better the lives of the people of Edo State.
The group’s President, Nuhu Yakubu, stated this at his opening remark at a town hall interaction with the frontline governorship candidates in the state in the September election held on Friday in Lagos.
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Yakubu said that the town hall meeting was organised to draw attention of the candidates to critical issues and challenges confronting the state and chat a common path for prosperity.
“I encourage our gubernatorial candidates to articulate their visions for the state, propose concrete strategies for driving growth and prosperity, and demonstrate their commitment to upholding the values of integrity, transparency, and good governance.
“Let us focus on issues that matter most to the people of Edo, and let us commit to conducting our electoral processes with fairness, respect, and adherence to democratic principles”, Yakubu said.
He advised political parties and their candidates to play by the rules and shun violence, noting that with the calibre of accomplished individuals in the race, he was sure that peace would be maintain during and after electioneering.
According to him, “We will examine the candidates perspectives around promotion of the right ethics and values, as enabler for sustainable development.
“We will address matters arising from on-going electioneering campaigns, leading to the forthcoming elections and extract comittments from the candidates to promote issues based campaign and transparent conduct of free and fair elections, not only to the pride of every Edo son and daughter, but for emulation by other states across Nigeria.
“We are already very lucky as a state to parade such distinguished and accomplished gentlemen in their respective rights, as front line aspirants, who understand too well not to encourage activities that would further divide us and and create chaotic situations.
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“Such that would make it difficult for the eventual winner to effectively govern a state that is already in dire need. As they say our local palance, “who dey cry dey see road”.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the state governorship election, Monday Okpebholo, was absent as leading candidates in the poll presented their manifestoes to political stakeholders and professionals.
The candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Olumide Akpata, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, attended the event.
The Edo gubernatorial election is slated for September 21, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has listed 17 candidates for the poll.
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