Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has made it clear that the All Progressives Congress (APC), is “over-prepared” for the Saturday, September 10 scheduled governorship election in the state.
He therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to postpone the election, saying that shifting the election would further postpone the “final burial of the PDP for too long.
“The APC is ready for the election this Saturday and that was why we held our mega rally on Tuesday and after that rally our people across the state became more committed, more dogged and ready for the Saturday election.
“I am already preparing to go to my village to also mobilize my people as other party leaders are doing, that is to let you know that we are not relaxing despite the fact that we know the PDP is already dead and our people are just getting ready for the burial.”
Oshiomhole who said that security issues are security issues and as regards elections they are very critical said: “if on their own they are calling on INEC for postponement, I am sure they must have their reasons because they are experts in it. If you recall, we raise the alarm that the PDP had planned to import thugs from neighbouring states to help them unleash mayhem on our people because they are not prepared for the election.”
Meanwhile, the INEC has confirmed that it is prepared to conduct the Edo State gubernatorial election slated for Saturday, September 10. The commission’s willingness to go ahead with the poll undermines requests by the police and Department of State Security (DSS) to postpone the election.
The two security agencies had on Wednesday morning threatened that “insurgents” and “extremists” would provoke violence during the election.
This was disclosed in a security report issued jointly by the police and DSS.
But INEC officials said that they heard of the “Security Report” while at a stakeholders meeting Benin City with the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations in attendance. The officials said that INEC is 99 percent ready and had already distributed non-sensitive election materials across the State when the devastating report hit its officers and ad-hoc staff
They said that neither the DSS nor the Nigeria Police Force consulted with the commission before advising it to postpone the election. INEC, however, was aware of the security report issued by the two agencies.
Saturday’s election between Godwin Obaseki (APC) and Osagie Ize-Iyamu (PDP) is expected to be tightly contested, with both camps engaging in last-minute efforts to secure victory.
Meanwhile, PDP governors have been pumping funds into local government areas surrounding Benin City, claiming that the party has made progress that would defeat the APC on Saturday.
At the time of reporting, INEC has yet to make a statement officially postponing the election, although a source at the agency admitted that the security report has psychologically demobilized its workforce. [myad]
