Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has reconstituted the board of the State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), following the sacking of the former board by the court.
Speaking at the swearing-in of the board, at the weekend, Oshiomhole said: “We have had to dissolve the former board in compliance with the order of the court.
“Although we didn’t agree with the order, we had to obey as we felt it was easier to obey the order than go through the process of appealing it.”
The governor said to ensure the impartiality of members of the board; he invited the chief judge and judiciary to nominate members who are competent and independent.
He urged the board to “do whatever you can that is in full compliance with the law and put in motion the process of conducting a free and fair election.”
Oshiomhole said the state would hold a Town Hall meeting next year on how to get the local governments to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.
Also, a security summit will hold in the New Year.
“We need your support to revisit the local governments to make them work for the people.
“We have to bring a change to the local government administration to bring government closer to the people.”
The governor said with the contributions made by the state, security challenges should have been reduced.
“In Edo State, we have given out over 110 vehicles for patrol but when I go out I don’t see them.
“I have asked the Acting Commissioner of Police to make the vehicles available for a physical audit.
“We cannot accept a situation where the vehicles provided for security are diverted for private use or even taken outside the state.
“We have to revisit the issue of vigilance groups carrying weapons to complement security agencies.
“We will need to go beyond throwing money at the security agencies and find out how they have managed the ones we have given to them,” he added.
