Jethro Ibileke/Benin

As the clock ticks for Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has advised voters to vote wisely and not allow any primordial sentiments to becloud their sense of judgment.

The Monarch also charged them not to be discouraged by the postponement of the election, but to come out en mass and vote for candidates of their choice in the rescheduled elections.

The Monarch gave the advice in a statement issued on Thursday in Benin by his Chief Press Secretary, Desmond Agbama.  

He charged the electorate to renew their hope and zeal by participating in the exercise, which he noted was their civic responsibility to the nation.

Oba Ewuare II however charged the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to prove itself as an unbias electoral umpire.

He also stressed the need for the security agencies to be neutral while providing security on election day and refrain from intimidation and harassment of voters.

“At this critical moment in the nation’s political journey, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must prove itself as an unbias electoral umpire in the conduct of the 2019 general election.

“The Benin Crown remains non-partisan, hence a level playing ground was provided for all politicians to campaign and canvass for vote irrespective of political parties,” he said.

The Oba also cautioned the youths against been used as thugs by politicians, to disrupt the electoral process.