Postponement of Edo election, a coup against Nigerians – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the Edo State governorship election, describing it as a coup against Nigerians.

INEC had on Thursday night postponed the election till September 28 a day after the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force advised it to shift the poll due to security threats.

However, the PDP, in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, condemned the move, adding that under the current INEC, all elections conducted had either been inconclusive or truncated.

It said, “The postponement of the election by INEC is illegal, unconstitutional and a breach of the peoples’ trust in the commission and the security agencies.

“It is a coup against the people of Edo State in particular and Nigerians in general. Since APC assumed power, virtually all elections conducted by INEC have either been inconclusive or truncated.

“Saturday’s election in Edo State must be an exemption. We will not accept anything less than free, fair and transparent election conducted and concluded the same day. INEC must rise to the occasion to restore the confidence of Nigerians in its operations.

“Edo is a test case. With the way INEC is performing, how are we sure that it would be able to handle the 2019 general elections. Our democracy is under a serious threat from the APC and its Gestapo security agencies.

“It is shameful and indeed a major constitutional breach for the security agencies to act in concert with the APC to truncate an election that had been planned for months.”

But the ruling party, the APC, has yet to comment on INEC’s decision to postpone the Edo State governorship election till September 28.

Attempts to get an official reaction from the party’s National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Thursday were unsuccessful.

Repeated calls to the mobile of the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were not returned.

A response to a text message sent to him was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

Similarly, the mobile phone of the party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, indicated that it was switched off when the line was called.

Lie detector compulsory for police recruits –IGP

The acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP),Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has ordered that successful candidates into the ongoing recruitment  must go through polygraph test ( lie detector).
He said apart from general background check, biometrics, medical, physical examination, aptitude, oral and psychological tests, the lie detector test was compulsory.
Mr. Idris gave this directive while reviewing the exercise so far and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in recruiting 10,000 personnel into the Nigeria Police Force. The IGP said no candidate will be admitted for training at the Police Academy and Colleges without undergoing the prescribed tests.
A statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Don Awunah said the polygraph test is aimed at ensuring that candidates are not of questionable character and their behaviours conform with standard rules of behaviour expected of an officer to be recruited into the force.
The Police Academy and other training colleges across the country will be equipped to carry out the necessary tests. The force is determined to ensure that the current recruitment conforms to acceptable standards necessary for an ideal officer the Nigerian people deserve.”