PDP to Tinubu: You have responsibility to ensure Edo governorship election is free, fair , credible

…vows to resist attempt by APC to rig poll
…counsels IGP not to allow APC pitch Police against Nigerians

By Tunde Opalana

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told President Bola Tinubu that he has the responsibility to ensure that Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State is free, fair and credible.

President Tinubu was admonished to impress it upon government agencies that are critical stakeholders in election management such as the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) and the Police not to compromise professionalism and best practices in the conduct of the Edo poll.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba said with the Edo State governorship election, President Tinubu has ample opportunity to write his name in gold.

The PDP asked President Tinubu to note that the African Union, European Union, United Nations and the entire international community are keenly interested in the Edo election, hence the President should ensure the integrity of the nation’s electoral process is protected.

“You can use your good offices to strengthen the nation’s democracy and good governance by ensuring credible election in Edo State”, he said.

He however raised several concerns of the PDP ahead of the polls by alleging of various plots by the All Progressives Congress APC to engage in “propaganda, violence, intimidation, harassment and terrorizing the people with the intention of frightening and preventing them from coming out to vote and use the opportunity to rig the election.”

Speaking further on alleged attempt by the APC to manipulate the electoral process, he alleged of attempt to foist APC thugs from Imo State to serve as POs for the election.

“The PDP has on several occasions alerted of how the APC is using some compromised Police operatives operating as IG Response Team and thugs imported from Imo and Kogi States to hound, arrest, detain and torture PDP member, supporters and other innocent citizens of Edo State with the knowledge of on trumped up charges.

“Only yesterday, the APC compromised Police operatives attempted to abduct one of members in Ikpoba in Benin City. The video is there for all to see.

“Our Party has also been alerted that the APC has given fake police and military uniforms and dangerous weapons to their thugs to unleash violence on the people of Edo State on election day.

“These harassments, arrests and torture of PDP members and supporters are going on with the knowledge of the Edo State Commissioner of and the entreaties by the PDP to IGP to put such to and end have not received the desired attention,” he said .

But Ologunagba warned that the PDP and the people of Edo State will not fold their hands and allow the APC to intimidate the people, subvert or rig the Saturday, September 21, 2024 Edo State Governorship election.

He said “the PDP and the people of Edo State are for peace but if the APC wants trouble, the PDP and the people of Edo State will use every legitimate weapon and means available in a democratic resistance to fight back, head-to-head and with overwhelming force to protect and ensure that nobody subverts the Will of the people at the poll.

“The PDP in very clear terms cautions that from henceforth any APC thug, fake or compromised security operatives that attempt to abduct any innocent citizen of Edo State, attempt to snatch ballot box or cause any crisis on election will know that Edo no bi Kogi.

“The PDP therefore charges INEC and the Police not to allow the APC to pitch them against the people. They must ensure a free, fair and credible election in Edo State.”

The PDP therefore directs all its members and supporters across Edo State to get ready for election, stressing that they should equip themselves with all necessary self-defense mechanism to defend their will and democracy.

“The PDP directs all our members and supporters to go their respective polling units with enough food, water, medication, mats, spare cloths, smart phones and other essential items.

“They should remain calm, law-abiding, vote peacefully but alert and ready to defend their votes. After casting their votes, they should stay back peacefully and ensure that their votes are counted and results directly uploaded before leaving,” he concluded.