Nigeria’ll suffer if INEC ‘messes’ with Edo election – Odinkalu

Former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu has warned that the entire country could face serious consequences if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) messes the ongoing Edo governorship election.

Odinkalu highlighted Edo’s pivotal position in the country, emphasising that disruptions in the election could impact the nation at large.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Odinkalu said, “If Mahmood Yakubu & @inecnigeria mess with #EdoDecides2024, all of #Nigeria will suffer it: there is hardly anywhere you can go in Nigeria without passing through Edo.”

On September 14, Odinkalu also criticized Mahmood Yakubu, INEC’s chairman, prompting a response from Kamson Chidubem, convener of the Civic Integrity Initiative (CII), who accused Odinkalu of “biased criticisms and media abuses.”

Meanwhile, former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday urged INEC and security agencies to remain neutral, highlighting their “moral burden” to serve as “independent arbiters” during the election.

Seventeen candidates are competing for the votes of 2.2 million registered voters to succeed the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki.