Edo Guber: Tension As Obaseki Raises Alarm Over Movement Of Suspected Political Thugs

Gov Godwin Obaseki

…LP Candidate, Akpata, Says I’m Very Much In The Guber Race

Edo State govern­ment has raised the alarm over alleged nocturnal movements of suspected political thugs working as­siduously to outsmart the Independent National Elec­toral Commission (INEC) offices in some Local Gov­ernment Councils (LGA) in the State.

The government, howev­er, commended the military for repelling the suspected political thugs who it said have tried hard to overrun INEC office in Oredo Local Government Council in the state capital.

Addressing newsmen in Benin, Edo State Com­missioner for Communi­cation and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare said the government is drawing the attention of Nigerians and the international commu­nity to the move by politi­cal thugs to taking control of INEC Local Government Council offices across the state.

He said the political thugs have taken over INEC offices in Oredo, Es­tako West, and Esan West Local Government Coun­cils in a bid to hijack the process.

According to him, the soldiers repelled the thugs and the thugs have since moved across the road from the INEC facility.

Nehikhare, who hailed the military for showing character and discipline, said the soldiers success­fully stopped the thugs from invading the INEC facility and urged the mil­itary to carry out similar actions across the other 17 LGAs.

He said Edo People cannot be intimidated or stopped from the actions of the political thugs.

Nehikhare urged Edo people to come out en­masse to perform their franchise, saying that sol­diers have recovered Oredo INEC Secretariat and the military is on top of their game protecting the people and INEC facility.

Meanwhile, Barr. Olu­mide Osaigbovo Akpata, the Edo State Governor­ship candidate of the La­bour Party, on Friday de­nied stepping down from the governorship race, describing those peddling the rumor of his stepping down as ‘professional poli­ticians trying to hoodwink Edo people”.

Akpata also frowned at the strange elements arriv­ing in the state, in respect of the governorship election with an attempt to cause mayhem and commit havoc.

According to him, vehi­cles carrying registration numbers of Awka Ibom State and Imo State Gov­ernments are parading the state for tomorrow’s election.

He queried what two Armored Personnel Carri­er (APCs) deployed by the Police and parked at the residence of a Senator and former Governor of the state are doing there.

Akpata noted that the rumour is to distract his supporters, calling on LP supporters to come out enmasse tomorrow, Sep­tember 21st, to participate in the state governorship election.

“I have been inundated with a flood of calls and messages from friends and supporters which con­strains me to release this statement to dispel the wicked rumour circulating that I have stepped down and supported the PDP candidate in tomorrow’s governorship election.

“This falsehood is illus­trative of the evil machi­nations of those who have held our state captive for a quarter of a century and demonstrates the shallow­ness that has characterized their governance style.

“Let it be unequivocal­ly clear that I am still in this race. The notion that I step down on the eve of the election, after the over­whelming support received from the good people of our state, borders on delusion,” Akpata said.

Akpata urged all Edo people to disregard the ru­mour, describing it as the last kick of a dying horse.

“To our steadfast sup­porters and all citizens yearning for change, stand firm. Do not be swayed by these desperate ploys. Our resolve is unshakable. Our cause is just, and our vision for our great state remains clear and unwavering.