AFTER CAMPAIGNS… APC, PDP, LP Await Edo Voters’ Reply Tomorrow

Candidates of the three major political parties in the Edo State government election on Thursday concluded their campaigns and will now await the verdict of the state’s electorate in tomorrow’s poll,

According to the electoral guidelines, campaigns end two days to election. day.

Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asue Ighodalo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Barrister Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party stepped up their efforts to cover more ground before midnight on Friday, when their campaigns were set to conclude ahead of tomorrow’s voters’ response.

Other candidates include, Tom Iseghohi (Action Alliance AA); Aner Abdullahi Aliu (Social Democratic Party; SDP); Azena Azemhe Friday, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Osifo Isiah (All Progressives Grand Alliance; APGA); Ugiagbe Sylvester (All People Movement; APM); Areleogbe Osalumese (All Peoples Party; APP); Kingson Akhime Afere (Action Democratic Party; ADP); Udoh David  (African Action Congress; AAC); Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena (Zenith Labour Party; ZLP); Osirame Edeipo (Boot Party; BP); Iyere Kennedy (Accord Party; AP); Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen (African Democratic Congress; ADC); Key Ndidi (Peoples Redemption Party; PRP); Paul Okungbowa Ovbokhan (Young Progressive Party; YPP).

RELATED: Gov’ship Poll: Edo Gov’t Declares Friday Work-free Day

Meanwhile, the state has seen a significant deployment of combined security agencies to ensure the peaceful conduct of the much-anticipated governorship election on Saturday, September 21.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported that 2,629,025 registered voters had been accredited to participate in the poll.

All major parties completed their campaign tours of the three senatorial districts, local government areas, and 192 political wards in the state last weekend, engaging in what is known as the ‘mosquito campaign’.

In a final effort to attract support, the Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, commonly called ‘Olu D’, received notable endorsements from the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti. This marks the second time in two weeks that they joined Akpata’s campaign trail as it neared its conclusion.

At the grand finale rally in Benin City for the party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, Obi urged security agencies and INEC to adhere to the rules and ensure a free, fair, and credible poll in the upcoming Edo State governorship election.

Obi asserted that the people of the state would certainly resist any attempt by any political party to rig the election, emphasising that Nigerians are suffering due to poor leadership choices. He argued that the correction must begin in Edo State by voting for the Labour Party’s governorship candidate on September 21.

The former governor of Anambra State stated that if Akpata wins, he will address the federal roads connected to the state without waiting for the federal government to intervene. He condemned state governors who shift responsibilities onto the federal government and assured that Akpata would not follow that path. He called on the people of the state to come out on Saturday and vote for Olumide Akpata and his running mate, Kadiri Asamah.

Similarly, Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, Prof. Yusuf Baba Datti, urged Labour Party supporters in the state to leverage their numerical strength to elect their preferred candidate on September 21. He encouraged party loyalists not to be intimidated and to be prepared to vote and defend their votes, as power resides with the people.

Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South Senatorial District, also reiterated that the party should be ready to replicate past successes on September 21.

The Labour Party’s governorship candidate, noted for having the most organised campaign among the political parties, made a surprise visit to Barrister Ken Imansuagbon at his opulent country home in Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area, accompanied by Labour Party presidential candidate Dr. Datti Ahmed to seek his support. A photo of the visit went viral on Thursday.

A Labour Party aspirant was contesting Akpata’s candidacy but lost his case at both the Federal and Appellate Courts. Akpata’s strategic peace overture aims to win over the aggrieved politician to work for the party.

On Wednesday, the wife of the PDP governorship candidate, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, launched another roadshow to garner support for her husband, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, who is vying for the governorship position.

The roadshow, which commenced from the National Museum ground in Benin, attracted a large turnout of women, particularly from the Arewa community and other local government areas, including Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, and Egor.

The carnival-like event featured the candidate’s wife dancing and encouraging the audience to come out en masse to vote for her husband.

The roadshow captured the attention of market women and passers-by, creating an atmosphere of festivity.

Expressing her enthusiasm, Mrs. Philomena Osaro from Oredo Ward 3 stated that they would vote for Asue Ighodalo on election day, believing he is the only candidate capable of governing the state.

“Come September 21, Mr. Asue Ighodalo will be voted in by the people, and he will win this election. He is a compassionate man, very accessible, and he is the right person to occupy Asadebe Avenue,” Mrs. Osaro declared.

Meanwhile, APC chieftains and leaders distributed educational grants and empowered several women as they predicted victory for the party in Saturday’s gubernatorial election.

APC national deputy treasurer Omorede Osifo said the empowerment initiative reflects the candidate’s commitment to revamping education in the state once he assumes office.

“Our inspiration is that we have an incoming governor who believes in our initiatives. He has articulated his agenda, prioritising education and supporting children’s return to school. We aim to assist families financially, as any amount helps alleviate their burdens. We also recognise that our women need sustenance.

“This is someone who genuinely cares for the people. We know his background; he wants to help. We must ensure that this kind of man becomes the governor of Edo State. In recent years, we have had leadership lacking in compassion,” he said.

“We realised we should not adhere to traditional political methods in the 21st century. Therefore, instead of using funds to purchase campaign materials, we redirected them to assist those in genuine need,” Iyamu added,

Flashpoints Identified in 8 LGAs

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Yiaga Africa, on Thursday identified eight local government areas in Edo State as hotspots for potential violence in tomorrow’s governorship election, urging security agencies to ensure adequate personnel deployment.

The identified Councils are Ikpoba/Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Esan South East, Etsako West, and Etsako East.

At a pre-election press conference in Benin City regarding the Edo 2024 governorship election, Yiaga highlighted that issues of vote-buying must be addressed by ensuring that both buyers and sellers are not only arrested but also prosecuted to deter further occurrences.

Dr Aisha Abdullahi, chair of the 2024 Edo Election Mission for Yiaga Africa, accompanied by the executive director, Samson Itodo, and other election stakeholders, commended INEC for its preparedness while urging all parties and candidates to uphold their commitment to the Peace Accord.

In a statement presented to the media entitled “A Barometer for Measuring Commitment to Electoral Integrity”, Yiaga Africa said said it had observed a tense and volatile political climate surrounding this election.

“The campaign period has been marked by aggressive tactics and violence. Cult groups and political thugs have intensified their activities, employing intimidation to suppress certain units and LGAs.

“Additionally, armed groups and political thugs may disrupt INEC’s election deployment. Yiaga Africa has identified eight LGAs as hotspots for violence. The volatile security environment in these areas necessitates strategic and neutral deployment of security forces,” it said.

Concerning vote-buying, the group said, “Yiaga Africa noted multiple instances of voter inducement during the pre-election campaign period in Edo State. Political parties and politicians continue to distribute cash, gifts, and food items to entice voters.

“Such practices undermine the integrity of the electoral process, distorting the electorate’s free will and compromising the democratic principles of free and fair elections. Yiaga Africa is concerned that these practices may extend to election day, turning polling units into epicentres of vote-buying.”

Yiaga further added, “While the high rate of Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) collection indicates a willingness among the electorate to participate, several factors may still contribute to a low turnout, including fears of political violence, economic hardship, and a profound lack of confidence in the electoral process.”

43,000 Security Personnel Deployed

Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has met with Edo State Governor Mr Godwin Obaseki, and assured him that the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, will ensure a free, fair, credible, and peaceful gubernatorial election on September 21, 2024.

General Musa, who gave this assurance during a meeting with Governor Obaseki at the Government House in Benin City, said the Nigerian Armed Forces were in the state to help ensure the peaceful conduct of the election and urged political actors not to escalate tensions.

“I am pleased to be here, and my visit is to promote peace. Having observed unfolding events and tensions on television, I prefer to come a few days before any election to advocate for calm. As Nigerians, we must learn to conduct elections correctly; there is no need to raise tensions unnecessarily.

“We have seen how elections are conducted peacefully in other countries, with citizens going about their daily activities while voting occurs. I am perplexed as to why our situation appears different.”

He assured that the Armed Forces were present to support a peaceful election.

The defence chief’s statement comes amidst loud complaints by the ruling PDP in the state that the rival APC was enjoying federal might and using the police to swing the vote in its favour, pointing to the arrest of prominent PDP politicians in the state and whisking them to the federal capital territory.

The PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, also granted an interview to a television station on Thursday, where he alleged that despite the purported heavy deployment of security forces for the election, notorious APC thugs (who he named) were still allowed to roam in the state with guns, even attacking INEC facilities and manhandling staff.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has declared Friday, September 20, a work-free day in the state to enable workers and other voters to travel to their polling areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

In a statement endorsed by Joseph Eboigbe, Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), the government reassured that security measures had been put in place to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.

The statement reads: “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Edo State Government has declared Friday, September 20, a work-free day in Edo State.

“This is to enable workers and other voters to travel to their polling areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election.”

“The government wishes everyone well and reassures that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.”