The Edo State Government is asking President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to tell security forces to stop hurting innocent people before next Saturday’s governor election.
The DAILY POST says the government also wants other countries to help make sure people in Edo can vote freely for who they think should run the state for the next four years.
Chris Nehikhare, the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, shared this news on Sunday during a press conference in Benin City.
Nehikhare said they have found out plans to arrest party members, hire 200 fighters, and use fake police officers to mess up the election so that the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins.
He said these plans are being made by leaders of the APC party in the state.
He also said that security forces, especially the police, are wrongly attacking innocent people in Edo who just want a fair election.
He said, “We are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tell the security agencies, especially the police, to stop attacking innocent Edo people. They have done nothing wrong; they just want a fair election so they can vote for who they like.”
“We also ask the International Community, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, ECOWAS, and the African Union, to help ensure people in Edo can vote for who they trust to lead their state for the next four years.”
“Even though we asked the police to stop arresting leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they have brought in more police from outside Edo to start arresting PDP leaders who are important in their areas. This is to make it easier to cheat in the elections.”
“We have also found out that the APC is making masks and police uniforms for fake police officers to scare voters and mess up the voting in areas where they can’t win. An APC leader was seen in one of these fake uniforms, and the real police even defended him.”
“We also found out that a House of Representatives member from Ovia Constituency is hiring 200 fighters to disrupt election work in the river areas like Ologbo and Nikorogha to Siluko. These fighters are already in hotels in the state. We are sharing this news so the security forces can stop them.”
“We heard that Senator Adams Oshiomhole is asking the Commander of Mopol 60 to guard his house on election day. This would let the senator and his team steal and mark all the ballot papers for APC inside his house, leaving no fair chance for other parties.”
“In the last elections, we warned about cheating, and the BVAS report showed that 210 people were credited but over 1000 votes were counted.”
“The APC knows they can’t win in places like Okpella, Lampese, Fugar, Ibillo, and Agenebode. So, they plan to use thugs in masks and fake uniforms to disrupt voting and scare voters in these areas.”
“Also, in Egor Local Government Area, the APC gathered thugs at Crosby Eribo’s house and other spots with protection from the Textile Mill Police Station to mess up voting in Egor.”
Nehikhare also said they heard about plans to move all security away from Governor Godwin Obaseki, leaving him unprotected before and during the election day.
DAILY POST also reported that during a meeting about the election, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said police escorts for VIPs would be taken away the day before the election.
Egbetokun promised that other security measures would be in place to keep everyone safe during the election.
