Edo Guber: Intrigues as Dennis Osadebay House awaits new landlord

..Massive deployment of security officers scares voters

..Tinubu urges civility during exercise

BY TITUS AKHIGBE & GRACE IHESIULO

The 2024 guber poll in Edo State which is taking place across the state today will certainly go down in history as one of the most keenly contested elections, even as political intrigues, ranging from circulation of fake news, allegations of thuggery and brandishing of frivolous court orders heightened a few hours to the D-day.

On Friday, the sudden news of the withdrawal of the candidate of Labour Party (LP), Barr. Olumide Akpata from race had gone viral, but the party was quick to allay the fears of their supporters by wholesomely debunking it.

Addressing a hurriedly arranged Press Conference yesterday,Akpata debunked the viral news that he had stepped down for the candidate of the People’s Democratic party (PDP),Dr.Asue Ighodalo, saying he remains in the governorship race.

His words: “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 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.

“Let me be unequivocally clear that am still in this race. The notion that I would step down on the eve of the election, after the overwhelming support received from the good people of our State, borders on delusion.

This pathetic attempt at deception is so amateurish that the “Oluwole” forgers could not even get the date right, leaving “July 29, 2024″ on their fraudulent document. Such incompetence would be laughable if it were not so sinister in its intent.

“To the perpetrators of this fraud: your desperate tactics only expose your fear. You claim I am a mere “spoiler,” yet you resort to such underhanded methods? Your actions betray your panic at our unstoppable momentum. | call upon all journalists and media outlets to take particular note of this situation. It is imperative that you report the facts accurately and diligently verity information before publication. The integrity of our democratic process depends on responsible journalism, especially in these crucial hours before the election.”

Continuing, LP candidate said, “to the architects of this forgery, | will not rest until I uncover every individual involved in this criminal act. You will face the full force of the law, and justice will be served. To our steadfast supporters and all citizens yearning for change, stand firm. Do not be swayed by these desperate ploys. Our resolve is unshakeable, our cause is just, and our vision for our great State remains clear and unwavering.

“I urge all the people of Edo State to disregard this last kick of a dying horse. Please go out and exercise your franchise tomorrow. Together, we will overcome these underhanded tactics and usher in the transformative leadership our State so richly deserves,”, Akpata posited.

Meanwhile, the Edo State government has raised concerns over the action of political thugs moving to overrun the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in some Local Government Councils (LGA) in the State.

The government also commended the military for stopping the suspected political thugs who it said have tried hard to overrun INEC office in Oredo Local Government Council in the state capital.

Addressing newsmen in Benin, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare said the government is drawing the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the move by political thugs to seize control of INEC Local Government Council offices across the state.

He said the political thugs have taken over INEC offices in Oredo, Estako West, and Esan West Local Government Councils in a bid to hijack the process.

According to him, the soldiers repelled the thugs and the thugs have since moved across the road from the INEC facility.

Nehikhare, who hailed the military for showing character and discipline, said the soldiers successfully stopped the thugs from invading the INEC facility and urged the military to carry out similar actions across the other 17 LGAs. He said Edo People cannot be intimidated or stopped BY the actions of the political thugs.

Nehikhare urged Edo people to come out en masse to perform their franchise, saying that soldiers have recovered Oredo INEC Secretariat and the military is on top of their game protecting the people and INEC facility. “

Saturday Times noticed there was massive deployment of security agents in the 18 Local Government Areas across the state. It was reliably learnt that over 20 commissioners of Police have been deployed, with the posting of a CP to every Local Government Area.

Besides, virtually all the governors of APC and PDP are in Edo State for the election.

In a related development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on all stakeholders in the upcoming Edo State governorship elections to conduct themselves peacefully and sportingly. The election is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.

The President implores the governorship candidates, political parties, and supporters to respect the democratic process and the people’s will. He believes in the voters’ ability to make informed decisions about their future leaders.

President Tinubu emphasises that democracy thrives on civility, tolerance, patience, and respect for the rules of the game. He notes that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has committed to conducting a free and fair election and urges all stakeholders to work together to ensure a successful and peaceful process.

The President commends 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 urges all citizens in the state to remain peaceful and respectful throughout the voting process. He encourages them to resolve any disagreements amicably through the constituted authorities.

In addition, President Tinubu expresses unwavering confidence in the professionalism and integrity of security agencies and INEC officials. He urges them to remain impartial and avoid any actions that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process.

…IGP bans aides, escorts accompanying VIPs to polling booths

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has banned all security aides and escorts accompanying Very Important Persons (VIPs) to polling booths and collation centres during the Edo State governorship off-cycle election scheduled for Saturday, September 21st, 2024.

The IGP’s ban was contained in a statement issued by the Force Spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Friday.

According to ACP Adejobi, the ban is to maintain the “integrity of the electoral process.”

The statement also announced the prohibition of unauthorized security personnel and quasi-security outfits from operating during the election.

Furthermore, the statement said the use of sirens by unauthorized vehicles is “strictly forbidden to ensure a calm environment for voters.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has identified 60 flash spots in Edo ahead of the Saturday’s Governorship Election in the state.

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Mr Gbenga Agun, the state Commandant of the NSCDC disclosed this on Friday in Benin during an.

Agun, who said that the spots cut across the three senatorial districts, noted, however, that personnel of the corps had been deployed to those areas for maximum security.

Earlier, while briefing the 6,464 personnel deployed to the state for the election, Mr Philip Ayuba, the Deputy Commandant-General for Edo election, warned the officers against wearing of uniform which does not conform with the dress code of its personnel.

He explained that this was to avoid a situation of infiltration into the ranks of personnel of the corps.

According to him, there are reports of some persons are trying to infiltrate the personnel, but we have put measures in place to check it.

“We call on everyone to exhibit good habit; don’t be temperamental. Try to be friendly in telling people to do what they are supposed to do and then, try to also present us well.

“Make sure you abide by the rule of the game. Rule of the game is to be in your normal uniform. Anybody that is not in the right uniform according to the guidelines for this election will be denied.’’

The deputy commandant-general said the corps was ready to ensure that the gubernatorial poll was free, fair and credible.

He added that the personnel would join the leading agency and other sister agencies to ensure nobody was intimidated while trying to perform his or her civil duty.

“The rule is to ensure that people are given the opportunity and people are not disenfranchised from casting their votes.

“We want you to perform your duties. Don’t do anything that will cause any problem there and don’t help any other person to commit crime while in their points of duty.

‘’Whatever you do, it is not going to be we; it is going to be I. That is what the uniform says. If you commit anything, they will call the civil defence, but at the end, it will be only you,” he warned.

In terms of critical national assets, the NSCDC boss explained that some men and officers had been deployed to man those assets.

“One of our mandates is to secure the critical national assets and that is why we have deployed our personnel to man those assets.

“Besides those going to polling units, we have officers in some strategic areas too and many of them have even left for their duty post,” he said.

Similarly, DIG Frank Mbah, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Edo Election said that ahead of the exercise, the state command of the Police Force had identified some flash points and black spots.

Mbah said that in order to mitigate the likely consequences of those discoveries, the force had carried very specilaised and specific target-oriented operations aimed at dealing with those challenges.

‘’But you will understand that some of these operations are classified and so, I may not be giving you details more than what I have just told you. But you can be sure that we have our eyes on those areas.

‘’We are carrying out the perceived intelligence-driven operations around those areas, and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that we are able to deliver an atmosphere that is peaceful enough for this election to take place,’’ he said.