THE Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Edo State, Professor Anugbum Onuoha, has called on the state government to adequately equip Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) with all the necessary facilities, including adequate funding to enable it conduct free, fair, and credible local government elections.
Professor Onuoha made the call in Benin City when he played host to the leadership of the newly reconstituted EDSIEC, who were on a courtesy call to the INEC state headquarters.
According to him, the conduct of credible elections require significant investment, particularly in logistics and security where financial provisions play major roles.
The Edo REC revealed that he was once Chairman of the Rivers State Electoral Commission saying, “I am speaking from experience, elections are expensive. If you want a credible process, the resources must be there, especially for logistics and security.”
He urged the new EDSIEC officials to engage in rigorous information gathering, continuous stakeholder engagement, and to ensure their staff are active in local offices.
“Don’t assume everything is fine from a distance,” he warned. “Visit your local offices. Engage the chiefs, community leaders and stakeholders. Let them know what you are doing. If you don’t, people will make wrong assumptions.”
Recalling his time in office, Prof Onuoha said that full funding and operational independence shielded his commission from political interference.
“In my time, we were even more comfortable than commissioners in the cabinet. We got everything — vehicles, funding, and facilities. Politicians couldn’t influence us. That’s why other parties could win elections.”
Prof. Onuoha however, expressed hope that the Edo State Government would not starve EDSIEC of fund, urging the newly appointed officials to remain committed to integrity and openness in their work, just as he also promised to make all the necessary election materials, including voters registers available to them when they require them.
Earlier, the EDSIEC Chairman, Hon. Jonathan Aifuobhokhan had said the visit was part of a wider effort to engage critical stakeholders and promote electoral integrity in Edo State.
“We are here to formally introduce ourselves, familiarize with your management team, and share our immediate plans and needs,” he said.
He underscored the constitutional roles of both INEC and SIECs, noting that while INEC is established under Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution, SIECs like EDSIEC are founded under Section 197.
“This shared constitutional foundation affirms the complementary roles both institutions play in the conduct of elections at federal and state levels.”
Aifuobhokhan used the opportunity to seek formal accreditation from INEC for selected members of his commission and technical staff to observe the upcoming bye-elections in the state.
“We hope to learn from INEC’s operational procedures especially in areas such as logistics, electoral technology, and voter engagement,” he said. “Our team will observe with professionalism, non-partisanship, and full respect for guidelines”, he declared.
Aifuobhokhan described the meeting between the two electoral bodies as a significant step towards improving inter-agency cooperation, especially when both sides have pledged to work together in advancing the democratic process in Edo State.
The delegation led by EDSIEC Chairman, Hon. Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, which was inaugurated by Governor Monday Okpebholo on January 20, 2025 had embarked on the visit to foster collaboration between the two electoral bodies.
