By Tony Osauzo, Benin
Again, the Edo State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, traded accusations ahead of next Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Addressing journalists in Benin City, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, flanked by the Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, said despite all the appeals made to the police to end the indiscriminate arrest of chieftains of the PDP, the security apparatus have yet deployed some other squad of policemen from outside Edo State to begin massive arrest of the party chieftains perceived to be politically strong in their various constituencies in order to pave the way for the manipulation of elections in those areas.
The state government described the intimidation tactic as irresponsible and most reprehensible, saying that doing so means the security agency do not mean well for people of the state by deploying such tactics when it ought to be neutral.
It, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu, to order the security agencies, especially the police to stop the alleged attacks on unarmed and harmless Edo people and Nigerians who have done nothing wrong except that they want a free, fair and credible election so that they can vote for the candidate of their choice.
Nehikhare and Osagie said intelligence report available to government has also uncovered massive production of masks and police uniforms by agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to veil their thugs who they plan to deploy to disrupt voting processes in units and wards where they know they do not stand a chance of victory.
“We called this press conference today to draw the attention of our country’s leadership, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and diplomatic corps to findings of our intelligence which we have uncovered ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
“The following are some of the information we are bringing to the notice of the general public and calling for immediate action.
“One, despite all the appeals made to the police to end the indiscriminate arrest of chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they have yet deployed some other squad of policemen from outside Edo State to begin massive arrest of PDP chieftains perceived to be politically strong in their various constituencies in order to pave the way for the manipulation of elections in those areas. This intimidation tactic is irresponsible and most reprehensible.
“Two, our intelligence has also uncovered massive production of masks and police uniforms by agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to veil their thugs who they plan to deploy to disrupt voting processes in units and wards where they know they do not stand a chance of victory. Only recently, a chieftain of the APC wore one of those uniforms and the police even presented a defense for such wanton display of impersonation.
“Three, we also uncovered plans by the House of Representative member representing Ovia Constituency who has engaged about 200 militants for the purpose of disrupting election materials and electoral officials in the riverine axis of the state beginning from Ologbo, Nikorogha, all the way to Siluko. We also understand that these militants have already been ferried into the state and lodged into various hotels. We are giving this information for the security agencies to act swiftly to arrest or dislodge these thugs and plans.
“Four, we have also uncovered plans to redeploy all the security officials attached to the Edo State Governor, His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki, in order to leave him without protection and render him vulnerable as we head into the election as well as on election day”.
They also alleged that the state government is aware of plans that have already been concluded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole to engage the Commander of Mopol 60 and his men who have been engaged to provide shield in the polling units around his home in Iyamho in order to allow the senator and his supporters take the ballot paper and all election materials into his premises and thumbprint all the ballot papers for APC, leaving other parties with no chances of getting fair votes.
Besides, the duo further alleged that in the last elections, the PDP gave similar information which was ignored, adding that at the end of that exercise, BVAS report validated the party’s report as 210 people were accredited but over 1000 votes were recorded.
“Having confirmed that they cannot win in Okpella, Lampese, Fugar, Ibillo, and Agenebode, the APC has concluded plans to use thugs veiled in those masks and police uniforms which they produced to disrupt electoral process and intimidate voters in those areas
“In Egor Local Government Area, the APC has gathered thugs in the home of one of its chieftains, as well as other houses in the neighborhood under the shield of the Textile Mill Police Station in order to disrupt the voting process in that LGA.
“We also call on the International Community, Embassies of the United States, United Kingdome and the European Union as well as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) to prevail on President Tinubu so that the electorate in Edo can cast their votes in favour of whoever they believe is better to lead their State for the next four years”, they added.
Reacting to the allegations, the Director of Publicity, APC Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, said the PDP, its candidate, Asue Ighodalo and Godwin Obaseki are suffering from horrific hallucinations.
“In the past two weeks, Governor Godwin Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo have been exhibiting dangerous symptom of hallucination, which has led to perceptions of having seen, heard, touched, tasted or smelled things that are hunting them”.
He said in the past few weeks, the only thing that comes readily to mind is the ghost of late Inspector Onuh Akor who the Edo State Security Network murdered in cold blood.
Besides, Omo-Ojo stated that the ghost of an imminent defeat on September 21, 2024 has become a horrible, nightmarish feeling for Obaseki and Asue his godson, pointing out that the reality of their inability to use the notorious ESSN to disrupt the scheduled election is responsible for their phantom make believe stories.
“Yesterday, September 14, 2024, PDP showed that truly, Asue will continue from where Pharaoh Obaseki will stop on November 12, by snubbing the Palace of Benin when Atiku Abubakar and others in company of Asue Ighodalo refused to visit the monarch. By their action, PDP has confirmed their ignoble position of ‘Oghionoba’, enemy of the Oba. Edo people have accepted the challenge and will defend what they treasure most next Saturday.
“Few days ago, September 14, 2024, Obaseki and Asue confirmed the fear of Edo people when they refused to sign the peace accord organised by the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee. By their action, the disgruntled PDP and candidate, Asue showed to the world that the party intends to shoot its way to victory.
“Sadly for them, Edo people are ready to resist them, not minding the threats of “Nigeria will burn” if the Independent National Electoral Commission refuses to write results for Asue.
“Nigerians are reminded of Governor Obaseki’s recent charge to his ragtag supporters that the September 21, 2024 election is a “do or die” contest the PDP must win. He shamelessly reminded his deflated party thugs that they will die if APC wins.
“During the week, another notorious thug masquerading as the Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress in Edo State, Odion Olaye, threatened INEC that Edo State and Nigeria will burn if the electoral body fails to declare Asue winner.
“Going by the prevailing scenario, Nigerians can tell who the merchants of violence are. For us in the All Progressives Congress, our cardinal goal is to sack the PDP from Edo State through the ballot box and set our people free from the vice-grips of buccaneer capitalists that have ruined the state and mortgaged the future of Edo people.
“The call by PDP and Obaseki for external help is akin to that of a misfit man who has mischievously set fire in his house and asking neighbours to save him from the inferno”, Omo-Ojo stated.
