It is finally D-Day in Edo State as the over 2.2 million eligible voters decide who will become the next governor of the state out of the over 18 candidates and political parties in the race.
However, the contest of who occupies the Edo Government House has shaped up to a three-man race, involving Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.
This comes as President Bola Tinubu urged all stakeholders in the election to conduct themselves peacefully and sportingly.
Checks by LEADERSHIP Weekend revealed that the security personnel deployed for the election had started taking strategic positions within Benin towns and other cities.
Police and Army patrols were seen in the major cities. At the same time, Navy patrols were also made along the riverine areas of the state, in what security personnel who pleaded not to be quoted described as a show of force and readiness to ensure peaceful polls.
Civil servants and other workers took the opportunity of the work-free day declared by the state government for the election to stock up on food and other household items.
Others travelled to their wards and local governments where they registered to vote, ahead of the stoppage of movement in and out of the state by midnight yesterday.
Meanwhile, party/candidates’ surrogates made last-minute attempts to sway or hoodwink voters by releasing fake withdrawals from the race and fake court orders disqualifying their opponents.
Political parties and their candidates were locked in what could pass for the last physical engagements before relocating to their wards for the crunch election.
After months of preparation for the highly charged election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police declared their readiness for it. The election has been characterised by allegations and counter-allegations of the use of security outfits to intimidate party leaders and members in the state.
The commission said it had distributed sensitive electoral materials to INEC offices in the state’s 18 local government areas. It also declared that 2,629,025 million registered voters, 2.2 million of whom collected their PVCs, while 379,245 did not collect their cards.
Tinubu Urges Civility, Respect For Democratic Process
President Bola Tinubu has implored the governorship candidates, political parties, and supporters to respect the democratic process and the people’s will.
In a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the president expressed belief in the voters’ ability to make informed decisions about their future leaders.
President Tinubu emphasised that democracy thrives on civility, tolerance, patience, and respect for the rules of the game.
He noted that INEC has committed to conducting a free and fair election and urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure a successful and peaceful process.
The president commended the governorship candidates and political parties for their campaigns, which have focused on issues that matter most to the people of Edo State, including improving livelihoods, promoting economic growth, and contributing to national development.
He urged all citizens in the state to remain peaceful and respectful throughout the voting process, and to resolve any disagreements amicably through constituted authorities.
In addition, President Tinubu expressed unwavering confidence in the professionalism and integrity of security agencies and INEC officials.
He urged them to remain impartial and avoid any actions that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
IGP Orders Movement Restriction
The inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, yesterday unveiled comprehensive security measures to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process and ordered restrictions of movement.
Force public relations officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said in preparation for the election, the IGP had ordered the restriction of all vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation from 6am to 6pm on Election Day.
He said exceptions will be made for essential services, including accredited media, electoral officials, ambulances, and emergency responders.
The Force PRO also said: “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.
Unauthorized security personnel and quasi-security outfits are prohibited from operating during the election, and the use of sirens by unauthorized vehicles is strictly forbidden to ensure a calm environment for voters.”
The IGP also mandated special attention for individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, the aged, and those with mobility challenges, to ensure that polling stations in both urban and rural settings are accessible to all.
Also, the inspector-general of police, through the deputy inspector-general (DIG) for Edo Gubernatorial Election, DIG Frank Emeka Mba has appealed to citizens to refrain from making prank calls to the control room and designated help numbers.
He noted that text messages are more effective for operational purposes.
The police said they had already activated a joint control room manned by police and relevant agencies engaged in the electoral process.
Our Candidate Isn’t Disqualified, Court Ruling Fake – APC
The APC however dismissed as fake and fabrication, a purported Magistrate court ruling being circulated that its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, had been disqualified from participating in the election.
APC national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, in a statement he made available to journalists on Friday night said Okpebholo urged voters in Edo to remain vigilant and resolute in the exercise of their democratic rights at the Saturday election.
Morka said the ‘fake news’ was meant to sow seeds of doubt about the APC candidate, describing it as a blatant and calculated attempt to subvert the will of the Edo electorate and must be thoroughly rejected by the people of the state.
“The circulated ruling is fake, a fabrication and an act of pure desperation in the face of their imminent defeat at the polls. The Magistrate Court that purportedly issued the fake ruling has issued a disclaimer stating categorically that the fake ruling did not emanate from that court.
Akpata Debunks Withdrawal Claim, Candidates Relocate To Wards
Asue Ighodalo of PDP, Monday Okpebholo of APC and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party yesterday relocated to their various wards where they will cast their vote today.
The PDP and APC candidates are from Edo Central Senatorial district, where the election will be keenly contested between the duo.
Akpata of the Labour Party, who is from Edo South, however expressed shock at a viral report that he had withdrawn from the race less than 24 hours to the governorship election.
At a press conference, Akpata said he remains very much in the race and vowed to ensure that all those involved in concocting the false information are made to face the full wrath of the law.
He said, “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 decided to step down and support the PDP candidate in tomorrow’s (today’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 characterised their governance style.”
Earlier, the Accord Party candidate, Mr Kennedy Iyere, withdrew from the governorship election. Iyere, in a viral news report, said his decision was influenced by internal party conflicts.
However, the party leadership, in a press conference, said it was unperturbed by Iyere’s action, adding that his running mate, Dr Bright Enabulele, is a better replacement and can win the governorship election.
Chairman of the party in the state, Hon. Joseph Omoregbe, flanked by the candidate, Dr. Bright Enabulele and other members of the party, said his withdrawal shows that “Iyere had no intention to contest the governorship election right from onset.”
Coalition Tasks INEC, Security Agencies On Free, Credible Election
A coalition of non-governmental organisations, Intercontinental Leadership Initiative, has urged INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure a free, fair and credible election in Edo State.
Speaking at a pre-election briefing of journalists in Benin City, Edo State, the coalition’s chairman, Prince Stanfford Bison, said the group had observed that INEC, in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, had made adequate arrangements for the monitoring of the Edo State governorship election.
It said, “The success of this election will go a long way in restoring trust in the democratic process essential for enduring representative governance.”
On its part, another CSO, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) expressed concern over the security situation in the state and the likelihood of vote buying and selling.
KDI also predicted a low turnout during the election, saying the turnout may not surpass that of 2020 election but may not be less than 20 per cent of permanent voter cards (PVC) collected.
They made this known in Benin yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting attended by the European Union Election Observation team, civil society organisations, and the media ahead of today’s governorship election.
Speaking on the findings of the organisation, head of research and strategy at KDI, Olufwafemi John Adebayo identified factors that could determine the outcome of the election.
Adebayo, who said Nigerians are facing a lot of economic challenges arising from inflation, amongst others, expressed worry that this may have an impact on the outcome of today’s election.
He noted that politicians may use this instrument of hardship to lure the people through vote buying, which, according to him, may subvert their will.
“As you can see, inflation is high in the country, so what this means is that N2,000 will mean a lot to some people. Politicians may use this as an instrument. Vote buying does not make an election reflect the will of the people. It subverts the will of the people.”
Consequently, he urged law enforcement agencies – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Nigeria Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) – to watch out for such unlawful act.
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