Edo 2020: PDP Tasks INEC, Security Agents on Free, Fair, Credible Election

By Simeon OSAJIE

Edo State Chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), State Police Command and other security agents to brace up the challenges of insecurity, violence, attacks in the State ahead of the September 19 Gubernatorial  election.

State PDP Chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemin, in a press briefing in Benin City  said the call has become necessary following gross absence of arrest of persons in connection with what he termed senseless attacks of party members and their properties across the state.

 "It will amaze you to know that not single person has been arrested for these senseless attacks on our members. If not for the strong appeal from our Governor, His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, you can imagine what would have become of our state if retaliation was carried out by our members."

He said the party candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki and his running mate, Comrade Philip Shaibu commands 80% of the peoples votes while APC and others are left with 20% judging from results of multiple independent opinion poll conducted ahead of the governorship election.

"Flowing from the above, we hereby demand, in the strongest terms possible, that INEC and the security agencies carry out their statutory responsibilities based on the oath of office they swore to, which is to be neutral." 

"We call on the parents of all the ad-hoc staff that will be engaged in this election, to call their wards to order. Edo people deserve a free, fair, credible and peaceful election, and nobody, whether in the security agencies or in INEC will be allowed to subvert the will of the people."

"However, anyone who deviates from this sacred oath which he or she willingly swore to, knows that we will ensure that the most extreme hand of the is meted out to them."

Dr. Aiziegbemin said, "after the inauguration of the Edo 2020 Campaign Council, the Committee immediately swung into action with our candidate, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Phillip Shaibu, the king of the youths. It was an awesome experience. It was electrifying. Edo State citizens came out in their numbers to catch a glimpse of our candidate and to hear our message. We are indeed humbled by this show of love and support for our candidate. We promise we will not take this for granted.

"We went about our campaign with peace and love. Unfortunately, we have to put it on record that the APC made feeble attempts to disrupt our campaigns. We have catalogued, as you can see on the board to my right, the senseless attacks on our party members and their properties. We challenge the APC, or any other party for that matter, to show such evidence of their members being attacked. 

"On behalf of the State Working Committee and the entire membership of the PDP in Edo State, I thank His Excellency and our candidate,  Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, his Deputy, Comrade Phillip Shaibu, in whom we have implicit confidence, the Chairman of the Campaign Council, Chief Dan Orbih, the Director General, Osarodion Ogie, the Deputy Director General, Engr. Gideon Ikhine, the Senatorial Coordinators and their deputies, for discharging the assignments given to them by the party, most honourably and efficiently. We owe you a world of gratitude.