ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has faulted the Peoples Democratic Party over its call for the redeployment of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Anugbum Onuaha, ahead of the August 16 by-election.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Caretaker Committee in the state, Tony Aziegbemi, earlier demanded the redeployment of Onuoha.

Aziegbemi claimed that the REC’s actions during the last governorship polls in the state undermined the credibility and integrity of the electoral process and should not be allowed to oversee the by-election.

Reacting to the call for the REC’s redeployment, the APC, in a statement by the state chairman, Jarret Tenebe, said the PDP chairman was looking for someone to blame for his party’s defeat after the polls.

The by-election was necessitated following the vacancy in the senatorial district and federal constituency, following the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo and Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa.

Okpebholo, before his governorship election victory, represented Edo Central, while Idahosa represented Ovia federal constituency.

The PDP has Joe Okojie as a candidate for Edo Central and Johnny Aikpitanyi for Ovia Federal Constituency.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Aziegbemi noted that the quality of their candidates would also help the party achieve victory on August 16.

Aziegbemi said, “The areas in the contest are traditional strongholds of the PDP. With the quality and credentials of our candidates and the support of the people, including our party supporters and members, we are sure of victory at the polls.

“We, however, want to express displeasure that some electoral officers, whom we are aware of, from their antecedents, have been compromised.

“We unequivocally demand the immediate redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Anugbum Onuaha, due to his role in the last governorship election.

“His actions during the last gubernatorial polls undermined the credibility and integrity of the electoral process, and we cannot allow such a tainted official to oversee the forthcoming by-elections in Edo State.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission and its Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, must, as a matter of urgency, meet this demand and boost voters’ confidence and assure the credibility of the process.”

In the same vein, the PDP chairman demanded that the Electoral Officers in Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, Etsako West, Etsako East, and Akoko Edo for the 2024 gubernatorial election should also not be engaged for the by-elections.

Aziegbemi said the party had lost confidence in the said EOs, alleging that irregularities marred the last governorship election in their areas of coverage.

He stressed that INEC should ensure that votes are counted, asserting that the PDP would not tolerate any form of electoral manipulation.

He added, “The mantra, ‘One Man, One Vote’ remains our slogan, and this we will uphold during the forthcoming by-elections.

“As a party, we will not tolerate any form of electoral manipulation. We insist on a fair, credible, and transparent election and urge INEC, security agencies, and all stakeholders to ensure that every citizen’s vote counts and is protected.

“To those who have chosen to defect from our great party, we wish them the best in their future endeavours.

“However, we remind them that the natural laws of nature also apply to politics.

“As we go into the elections, we remain focused on winning the National Assembly seats and, as a formidable political party that enjoys the love and support of the people, especially at the grassroots, we are confident of coming out victorious.”

The party urged voters in the various constituencies to remain vigilant, participate actively by coming out en masse and vote for the PDP and its candidates, saying they had the capacity and ability to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Aziegbemi described the process that produced the two candidates as credible, open and transparent, calling on the INEC chairman to boost voter confidence and assure the credibility of the process.

“Having completed the pre-election process that produced two quality candidates, our party in Edo State is highly prepared for the polls and confident that it will emerge victorious,” he said.

Reacting, the APC said the PDP was lamenting the defeat awaiting its candidates in the by-election.

“Aziegbemi and his weary and tired political urchins’ fear is caused by the unprecedented achievements Governor Monday Okpebholo has recorded in just eight months in office.

“We will advise Aziegbemi and his half a dozen PDP members to brace up to accept the pain of the impending defeats that await them.

“Governor Okpebholo’s achievements have led thousands of politicians out of the PDP, and, in fact, we have torn the umbrella into shreds, and the reality is that, in this coming election, and that of 2027, Edo people have made up their minds to vote massively for our party, the APC.

“As of today, no other political party exists in the state, except the APC.

“Governor Okpebholo’s achievements, since his assumption, have attracted many PDP members with good conscience to join us in our drive to give the state all-round development,” Tenebe said.

He added that the APC administration at both federal and state levels had initiated lifesaving projects and would still do more to improve the standards of living.

“The long-abandoned roads, schools, hospitals and others are receiving attention.

“There is also a marked improvement in security in our dear Edo State as a result of Governor Okpebholo’s re-engineering of the security architecture.

“The administration has also embarked on a massive recruitment of teachers to train pupils and students in our public schools.

“So, come August 16, Edo people will troop out en masse to vote for our candidates, Hon Joe Ikpea and Hon Omosede Igbinedion, who we have presented for the vacant Senate and Federal House of Representatives seats.

“On August 16, 2025, the APC is determined to prove to our leader, President Bola Tinubu, that the 2.5 million votes Edo State people promised him is possible,” he said.