21st September 2024
The three main political parties have expressed their readiness for the election As residents of Edo State head to the polls today.
With over 2.2 million permanent voter cards collected, candidates of the parties —Senator Monday Okpebholo (All Progressives Congress), Asue Ighodalo (Peoples Democratic Party), and Olumide Akpata (Labour Party)— are hoping to get the highest number of votes.
The winner will occupy Osadebe House, the government house, which will be vacated on November 11 by the incumbent, Governor Godwin Obaseki, who has served two tenures.
The Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Peter Uwadiae, stated that his party was ready for the election.
He said, “Our campaign shows our readiness. We have done that which the law allows us to do and our campaign was issue-based. As a party, I can confirm that we are ready. Our fear is that one of the persons who killed the police officer at the Benin Airport is roaming freely and we hear he is in Edo Central mobilising for trouble and distorting the election, while other PDP leaders are also doing the same in Edo South.”
While expressing readiness for the election, the Deputy Director General of Media for the Asue/Ighodalo campaign, Dr Pedro Obaseki, voiced concerns that the process could be hijacked by thugs.
He stated, “It has come to light that this is part of a larger strategy to compromise these materials in Oredo LGA. Other local governments targeted for similar disruptions include Egor, Uhunmwonde, and parts of Ovia Federal Constituency.”
The Public Relations Officer of the LP, Sam Uruopa, said Akpata and the party were ready for the polls.
He urged INEC to play by the rules and advised security operatives not to intimidate, harass or molest the electorate.
Uruopa said, “The LP candidate is well prepared, done the needful, gone round 18 LGs and the over 193 wards three times, and he is the only candidate that went to the riverine area with speedboats and he was readily accepted. I can tell you that his preparation is second to none.
“For now, we have not had any fear over the process but we are urging INEC, a Federal Government institution, to be an unbiased umpire and play by the rules of the game.”
The battleground areas
Saturday Kukuruku News gathered that the major battleground will be in Edo Central, where Okpehbolo and Asue hail from.
The APC candidate has affirmed that he has the backing of the electorate from the zone and expressed hope that his tutelage under the late Tony Anenih will work in his favour.
