Group Denies Drumming Support For Parties, Candidates For Edo Guber
The Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOSCO), says it has not endorsed any of the candidates or political parties in the race for the Edo state governorship election.
A press statement signed by the Public Relation Officer of Edo Civil Society Organisations, Leftist Osazee Edigin, and made available to journalists in Benin City, said the right coalition group is forbidden from endorsing any political party or it’s candidate.
The civil rights group, however, stated that as stakeholders in the society, it would engage political parties, their candidates, the electoral umpire and the public with the aim of achieving a free, fair and credible election, and to reposition the society towards political evolution.
The statement reads in part: “Edo state is currently charged with political activities, with the two major political parties, the PDP and APC meeting different groups and sourcing for endorsements along the way, to boost their chances at the polls. The civil society constituency is a major component of the system that must not fail in its objective in repositioning the society towards achieving democratic evolution.
“We need to be emphatic on the issue of political endorsement in elections with its attendant consequences as a civil rights group. As a matter of concrete policy, EDOCSO is forbidden to endorse any political party or their candidates for any election; however, we are expected to help guide the various political actors and citizens on laid down procedures in achieving a free, fair and credible election. Our members are allowed to belong to any political party of their choice; but cannot endorse any candidate or political party. Executive council members are barred from belonging to any political party.
“The civil society is to engage the various stakeholders that constitute the polity and not to take a one-sided political endorsement that tends to defeat the trust and confidence of the masses that it represents. We will do political education, have discussions with political parties and candidates, and engage law enforcement agents and the umpire, which are geared towards a successful election, as the responsibility demands.
“EDOCSO, which is ably led by Leftist Omobude Agho, will not compromise the standard built over the years, and being replicated at our various study centres, which are community-based formations across the state in endorsing a political party or candidate. It will be too dangerous and risky for EDOCSO to endorse a political party in the present day Nigeria, when it is obvious that none has clear cut ideology.
“Our major preoccupation currently is the continuous expansion of our study centres in every community in Edo state, where locals will be empowered with requisite information to engage the system in order to endear a better society. We are movement poise to raising altruistic leaders that will distort the existing status quo that is populated by greedy, avaricious and gluttonous leaders, whose only motivation is the splitting of our commonwealth among themselves. Our presence is already in over 10 local government areas of the state and several communities, where our members are making discernable positive imparts.”
https://orientdailynews.com/po....litics/group-denies-
