Edo: Oshiomhole victory, hard lesson for PDP – Mark

[MrVan]

By INALEGWU SHAIBU

ABUJA—SENATE President, David Mark yesterday reflected on the victory of Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole at last Saturday's elections and declared that the era of imposition of candidates on the people was over.

Mark who made the remark after the confirmation of three new Resident Electoral Commissioners, REC for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC said the defeat was a hard lesson for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Senate President also pointed out that the National Assembly was committed to ensuring the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country, saying the peoples' vote must be allowed to count.

"I think that is a hard lesson that the majority party has learnt from the Edo election. We hope that when these three nominees go there, they will ensure that elections are free, fair and that they are credible and that the PDP government will like to ensure that."

The three RECs confirmed yesterday were Mr. Habu Zarma Hinna, Mr. Ikoiwak Aniedi Abasi and Mr. Baritor Lenusikpugi Kpagih.

Mr. Hinna represents Gombe State at the commission, while Abasi will be representing Akwa Ibom State at INEC and Kpagih will be representing Rivers at the commission.

Meanwhile President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the Senate to confirm Mr. Ekpo Una Nta as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission, ICPC.

President Jonathan through the letter also withdrew the nomination of Mr. Francis Elechi who was initially confirmed by the Senate as the Chairman of the commission.

The letter read, "Mr. Francis Elechi has been earlier confirmed by the Senate as the Chairman of board of ICPC, however, emerging circumstances precluded him from assuming the position of Chairman of ICPC.

"Consequently, I had to forward the name of Ekpo Una Nta, a serving member and acting chairman of the board for consideration as chairman of ICPC board. I hereby wish to formally withdraw the earlier nomination of Mr. Francis Elechi as chairman of ICPC.

Vanguard Nigeria