By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

As the September 21 Edo State gubernatorial election draws closer, the Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) has on Tuesday alleged that it had uncovered a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the election in favour of their candidate.

Prince Kassim Afegbua, director of media for the Edo APC campaign council made the allegations in a statement he made available to newsmen.

He alleged that the Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki was planning to use the Edo Security Network as a “gambit” to manipulate the election results.

Afegbua further alleged that APC had been inundated with calls from well meaning Edo electorates of PDP’s game plan to use threat, intimidation and harassment to disenfranchise Edo voters from exercising their right during the September 21 gubernatorial poll.

He however called on all relevant security agencies to show proactive measures in mitigating the plot by the ruling party in the state.

Below is the full statement reproduced hereunder:

PRESS STATEMENT

GOVERNOR OBASEKI PLOTTING TO RIG EDO ELECTION.

We, of the Edo State APC Campaign Council are hereby alerting the public, Edo electorates, and all others concerned, of the clandestine and surreptitious moves by the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, to rig the forthcoming Edo Gubernatorial election using his illegal Edo Security Network as a gambit. We have been inundated with calls from well meaning Edo electorates of his game plan to use threat, intimidation and harassment to disenfranchise Edo electorates from exercising their right at the elections. We had decried before, the State Government’s activities apropos of arms procurement. Edo State government has been recruiting even more hands into their illegal Edo Security Network, with the sole motive of empowering them for the underhand assignment of rigging the election by intimidation.

We are aware that the State Government has now started producing Police Uniforms and Military Uniforms which the members of the Edo Security Network will be made to wear on the said day of the election, to disguise as real police officers and military personnel; to assist them in carrying out their pernicious assignment. Some citizens with moral rectitude, who were invited for a briefing at the Government House on Monday, raised concerns about this plot and turned down the job offer. The State Government is still arranging to procure more guns and other ammunition for them for the D-Day of the election. Before now, the Edo Security Network had started mounting illegal road-blocks and checkpoints across the state, posturing as Police and Military personnel: the APC campaigns in Akoko-Edo were attacked a couple of days back, and our supporters, acolytes and functionaries were also attacked at Ewohinmi area last week after our successful campaign outing.

By this statement, we are appealing to the Military Authority as well as the Nigeria Police, particularly to the Inspector General of Police to please come and rescue Edo State, immediately. We adjure these authorities to commission their men to carry out investigations concerning these serious allegations in order to act appropriately, and forestall the breakdown of law and order in Edo Stste. We have been besieged with serious complaints by our members, and other citizens of the need to be particularly overarching about the safety of theirs, and our lives and properties, in order for us all to successfully and peaceably exercise our franchise on the D-Day.

The fears are becoming disquieting hence our decision to alert the whole world of these sinister plots of Governor Godwin Obaseki. It is wrong, condemnable and abhorrent for a state government to be arming youths in the name of election. This is how the dreaded Boko Haram started, and has grown to become this juggernaut besetting Nigeria till date. We must avoid such a situation in Edo. It is incumbent on the security authorities to act with legerity, even if it comes to banning the Edo Security Network and also arresting those illegally in possession of firearms altogether. The needful need be done lest we allow a total breakdown of law and order in the state.

In the APC, we preach one man, one vote; in the exercise of the franchise of every eligible voter in the state.

We are concerned that the state governor is deeply desperate and will espouse cutthroat gambits to plunge the state into avoidable crises should the odds be against him. Under a democracy, the freedom to choose is not only a sacrosanct but indeed the least requirement for the exercise to bear that name. Let us leave the power with the people. Governor Obaseki must be called to order immediately. We are for a peaceful process of election and nobody, no matter how highly placed, or in whatever station will intimidate, repress, or withstand us.
We are fervently calling on all concerned, to ensure that the election is devoid of bloodletting and killing by any party, by not leaving any wiggle room for artifice. A stitch in time, saves nine. The IGP and Military Authorities should please act on this with alacrity, to arrest this grave concern.