AFTER what he described as a routing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has thanked the people of the state for voting in candidates of their choice in a peaceful and orderly manner in the last House of Assembly election in the state.This is coming on the heels of commendation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the African Network for the Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) for the successful conduct of the election in most parts of the country.The governor, in a statewide broadcast, also thanked the royal fathers in the state, especially the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, and religious leaders for their support and prayers for a peaceful and successful election.We thank God for the peace that characterised the entire exercise. If there were people who had made up their minds to undermine the exercise, we thank God they were all put to shame. I want to congratulate each and everyone of you for participating in this election. Whereas in parts of the country, reports suggest that there was fighting here and there, in Edo State, we didnt have any incident of death or attack or indeed anybody being brutalised or dehumanised on account of his or her participation in the election. He added: Let me also use this opportunity to appreciate your massive endorsement of Action Congress candidates, and as we speak, we now have overwhelming representation in the House of Assembly. I have taken your mass endorsement of ACN candidates to mean approval of my stewardship, of my report card, which I had attempted to present to you in the course of the campaign.Your endorsement of ACN candidates, for me, also represent a firm order on your part to me not only to continue with what we are doing, but even to expand and ensure that the pace of development is even accelerated. With the co-operation of the House of Assembly, I appreciate that this mandate carries with it enormous obligation to ensure that public funds and resources are used squarely and in a way that will deliver the greatest good to the greatest number in the shortest time. I want to assure you that we will not disappoint you.ANEEJ, in a statement yesterday by its Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor, however, decried the poor voters turnout in most polling units.He said 34 domestic observers were deployed for the State Assembly election in Edo State and another 30 to observe the Governorship and State Assembly election in Ebonyi State.We commend the INEC for the sustainedimprovement in logistics that was recorded during presidential election as election materials and personnel arrived early in almost all the polling units within our coverage area, except in isolated cases reported in Ebonyi State where shortage of personnel were reported.He said: The overall assessment of the election shows that, the outcome is relatively free and fair in spite of isolated cases of irregularities that were reported at some polling units. Such irregularities did not substantially affect the final result of the election.
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