Guber: Ighodalo, Okpebholo, Akpata battle for 2.2 million votes in Edo

• IG orders movement restriction
• PDP raises the alarm over hijack

As residents of Edo State head to the polls today, the three main political parties have expressed their readiness for the election.

With over 2.2 million permanent voter cards collected, candidates of the parties —Senator Monday Okpebholo (All Progressives Congress), Asue Ighodalo (Peoples Democratic Party), and Olumide Akpata (Labour Party)— are hoping to get the highest number of votes.

The winner will occupy Osadebe House, the government house, which will be vacated on November 11 by the incumbent, Governor Godwin Obaseki, who has served two tenures.

The Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Peter Uwadiae, stated that his party was ready for the election.

He said, “Our campaign shows our readiness. We have done that which the law allows us to do and our campaign was issue-based. As a party, I can confirm that we are ready. Our fear is that one of the persons who killed the police officer at the Benin Airport is roaming freely and we hear he is in Edo Central mobilising for trouble and distorting the election, while other PDP leaders are also doing the same in Edo South.”

While expressing readiness for the election, the Deputy Director General of Media for the Asue/Ighodalo campaign, Dr Pedro Obaseki, voiced concerns that the process could be hijacked by thugs.

He stated, “It has come to light that this is part of a larger strategy to compromise these materials in Oredo LGA. Other local governments targeted for similar disruptions include Egor, Uhunmwonde, and parts of Ovia Federal Constituency.”

The Public Relations Officer of the LP, Sam Uruopa, said Akpata and the party were ready for the polls.

He urged INEC to play by the rules and advised security operatives not to intimidate, harass or molest the electorate.

Uruopa said, “The LP candidate is well prepared, done the needful, gone round 18 LGs and the over 193 wards three times, and he is the only candidate that went to the riverine area with speedboats and he was readily accepted. I can tell you that his preparation is second to none.

“For now, we have not had any fear over the process but we are urging INEC, a Federal Government institution, to be an unbiased umpire and play by the rules of the game.”

The battleground areas

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the major battleground will be in Edo Central, where Okpehbolo and Asue hail from.

The APC candidate has affirmed that he has the backing of the electorate from the zone and expressed hope that his tutelage under the late Tony Anenih will work in his favour.

Edo North is a stronghold of the APC, but the PDP has made inroads into the zone since the presidential election last year.

This development has been speculated to ruffle some feathers in a zone that a former governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, still holds sway.

The state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, who rejoined APC after his battle with Governor Obaseki, will also pull his weight in Edo North.

After a less-than-impressive performance in the 2023 general election, the APC has made significant strides in recent months, with the return of Mathew Urhoghide and Charles Idahosa—widely regarded as a masterstroke.

On the other hand, Ighodalo who hails from Edo Central, will also be relying on the popularity of his party in some parts of Edo South to emerge as a winner.

Akpata’s emergence as the candidate of the LP came to many as a surprise, but he admitted that the plan, which he termed deliberate, had been on for long.

The LP candidate’s stronghold is in Edo South, where he hails from, but he has toured the entire state to gain more supporters and present his manifesto to the electorate.

Despite the LP’s success in last year’s general election, the party has not rested on its oars as it is aware that its two main rivals, the APC and PDP are also consolidating in areas where they enjoyed popularity.

INEC calms citizens

To show its readiness for the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission has delivered electoral materials to all the 18 LG offices of the commission.

The Public Relations Officer of the Edo INEC office, Toyin Buoro, confirmed this to the Saturday PUNCH on Friday, adding that the election will begin in all the polling units at the scheduled time.

She said, “All the LG offices of the commission have their material with them. They will be warehoused in the Registration Area Centre in every LG. However, for security, they merged some of the RAC centres to become Super RAC centres, where the supervisors and polling unit officers will also camp for the night for easy access to their polling unit.”

A senior official at INEC assured citizens that the election would be conducted without tension, emphasising that the commission’s officials, security operatives, and other stakeholders would collaborate to ensure the poll’s success.

“The conduct of this election is a big task, which INEC is capable of handling. We are working with the police and other security operatives so that we will have a conducive environment to do the job. Edo people should go out and cast their ballot for the candidate of their choice on Saturday,” the senior official stated.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Onuoha Anugbum, on his part, revealed that he supervised the distribution of the material alongside the INEC commissioner in charge of the state on Thursday.

He said, “We are here at the Central Bank to send the sensitive materials to their various local governments. Before we did that, we signed the materials and took the political parties and the security agencies to observe. To the glory of God, all of them have seen the sensitive materials and we have sent them to the various local governments.

“We started with Edo North, then Edo Central before Edo South Senatorial District. We invited everyone. You know INEC has the tradition of carrying everybody along.

“The sensitive materials include results sheets, voting sheets, we call voting sheets form A, we have form B, which is the ward collation results, form C, which is the local government collation results.”

Tinubu urges peace

President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, called on all stakeholders in the election to conduct themselves peacefully.

This was conveyed in a statement signed by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, titled, ‘President Tinubu urges peace and civility in Edo State governorship elections.’

“The President implores the governorship candidates, political parties, and supporters to respect the democratic process and the people’s will.

“He believes in the voters’ ability to make informed decisions about their future leaders.

“President Tinubu emphasises that democracy thrives on civility, tolerance, patience, and respect for the rules of the game,” the statement partly read.

Tinubu praised the governorship candidates and political parties for their campaigns and expressed confidence in the professionalism and integrity of the security agencies and INEC officials.

Vote-buying, violence worry Yiaga

The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, in a phone interview with Saturday PUNCH, said voter inducement had been observed in the build-up to the Edo election.

He added that political actors had exploited the prevailing economic hardship in the country, weaponising poverty to induce voters by offering free fuel and cash amounts ranging from N1,000 to N2,000.

Itodo said, “One of the concerns we have noticed and expressed is that what you will see tomorrow is the commercialisation of the voting process, with polling units potentially becoming epicentres of vote buying if security operatives do not hold politicians accountable.

“I am glad to learn that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will be fully present on the ground, but the issue of vote-buying extends beyond just arrests. If you look at the number of prosecutions secured for those who have bought votes, it has been very low, which is why there is such impunity.

“This is a highly competitive election and politicians are exploiting every avenue to secure victory. It will be no surprise that if we go to the polls tomorrow, we will witness all kinds of vote-buying. People may not show up to vote, and politicians might flood the space with money to entice them.”

He further raised concerns about potential violence in Edo South LGA, which was identified as a hot spot for electoral violence.

‘INEC should redeem image’

The Edo State Civil Society Organisations called on INEC to use the governorship election as an opportunity to restore its credibility by ensuring a free, fair poll.

The group, through its Coordinator General, Omobude Agho, made the appeal while addressing journalists in Benin.

He warned that anything short of a transparent election would further discourage citizens from exercising their voting rights in the future.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission must not discourage genuine voters through its actions or inactions during this Saturday’s Edo State governorship election.

“Tomorrow, Saturday, September 21, 2024, presents another golden opportunity for the commission to redeem its image.

“The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, must inspire confidence in our electoral processes, especially given the questionable and controversial outcomes of previous elections conducted by the commission.

“The continuation of democracy in Nigeria rests on his shoulders as the head of the commission. An umpire must be neutral, just, fair, and trustworthy to earn the confidence of the people,” Agho added.

Agho also commended the temporary suspension of the Edo State Security Network, stressing that the police and other security agencies must remain impartial during the election and ensure the safety of citizens.

He called on the citizens to use their PVC to cast their vote, adding, “It is your ultimate power and a fundamental human right. Do not mortgage or sell it for any amount.”

The Whillz Trust Foundation, through its Youth-led Electoral Reform Project, said the Edo State election will provide an opportunity for INEC and security agencies to restore confidence in the electoral process.

The Executive Director of Whillz Trust Foundation, Aaron Anyamwu, said, “A free, fair and credible elections in the state would begin the process of restoring the confidence of Edo and Nigerian youth in the electoral process.

The foundation also called on the police to uphold the tenets of professionalism and remain unbiased in carrying out their duties.

IG directs vehicular restriction

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the restriction of movement during the election.

He gave the directive in a statement signed by the Force Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, which was made available to journalists.

“In preparation for the election, the IGP has ordered the restriction of all vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation from 6am to 6pm on Election Day. Exceptions will be made for essential services, including accredited media, electoral officials, ambulances, and emergency responders.

“To maintain the integrity of the electoral process, the IGP has implemented a ban on all security aides and escorts accompanying VIPs to polling booths and collation centres. Unauthorised security personnel and quasi-security outfits are prohibited from operating during the election, and the use of sirens by unauthorised vehicles is strictly forbidden to ensure a calm environment for voters.

“The IGP has mandated that special attention be afforded to individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, aged, and those with mobility challenges, ensuring that polling stations in both urban and rural settings are accessible to all,” the statement read.

The IG also advised citizens to report any suspicious activities or incidents that might jeopardise the integrity of the electoral process or cause disorderliness in any part of the state.

Panic buying, hotels fully booked

Ahead of today’s election, some residents flocked to various markets for last-minute shopping to beat the restriction of movement order.

In addition to the markets, various motor parks were bustling with activities as commuters were seen travelling to various destinations to cast their votes.

One of our correspondents, who visited Ekpoma Market at Alli Square and its environs in Esan West Local Government Area on Friday, observed a heavy security presence.

Motorists were also making last-minute purchases at petrol stations to avoid being stranded.

Long queues of vehicles were seen at various petrol stations in the metropolis, including those buying fuel in jerry cans.

Customers also swarmed Automated Teller Machines and POS operators to withdraw cash in preparation for the day.

Despite the rush, the environment remained calm and peaceful, with people going about their normal activities.

At Irrua Market in Esan Central LGA, both buyers and sellers were seen in large numbers, engaging in transactions involving food commodities, groceries, and other sundry items.

Similarly, most hotels visited in the communities were fully booked by party supporters and voters, Saturday PUNCH learnt.

Many people were left stranded and disappointed when informed that no rooms were available.

At the hotels, there was a heavy security presence, with officers from the Department of State Service and the police on standby.

Edo commissioner raises alarm

Meanwhile, the state government has raised concerns over the action of political thugs allegedly moving to overrun INEC offices in some local government councils in the state.

The government also commended the military for stopping the suspected thugs who it said tried hard to overrun the INEC office in Oredo LGA in the state capital.

Addressing newsmen in Benin, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said the government was drawing the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the move by political thugs to seize control of INEC local government council offices across the state.

He said, “Political thugs have taken over INEC offices in Oredo, Estako West, and Esan West local government councils in a bid to hijack the process.

“The soldiers repelled the thugs and they have since moved across the road from the INEC facility.”

The Punch