Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, says the outcome of Edo State governorship election is an indication that free and fair election is possible in the South-South zone.
Peterside, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State in the 2015 election, made the assertion while reacting to the outcome of the election.
Mr Godwin Obaseki, the APC candidate, polled 319,483 votes to win the election, while Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP scored 253,173 votes to place second.
Peterside said that in spite of the security challenges in the south-south, free and fair elections were possible as the people would vote for their candidates.
“ The Edo governorship election has proved a vital point, which is, despite the security challenges in the south-south, free and fair elections are still possible there.
“Whenever there are elections in the zone, the people will identify with candidates that will take them to the centre of Nigerian politics,” he said.
Peterside commended the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a credible election in Edo.
He said that the new standard set by INEC and security agencies should be used in the re-run election in Rivers.
Peterside urged the governor-elect to serve the people and justify the confidence reposed in him.
“He should serve the people of Edo for their resilience, for standing up for integrity, Edo people have made their choice and it is now up to Obaseki to serve them,” he said.
