Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the rescheduled Governorship election now slated for September 28 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was supported by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led All Progressives Congress to enable the party to manipulate the election and to also import members from APC states to buy up Permanent Voters Cards, PVC’s for the purpose of voting.

State chairman of the party Dan Orbih at a press briefing yesterday also alleged that credible information available to it indicated that the APC government has paid huge sums of money to militants from Delta State lodged in different hotels in the state capital to unleashed mayhem on PDP leaders before and during the governorship election and called on security agencies to immediately swing into action in apprehending the militants.

It would be recalled that Governors Adams Oshiomhole had last weekend accused the PDP and the governors of Rivers and Delta state of importing 8,0000 armed militants into the state for purpose causing mayhem to rig the postponed election.

Orbih stated “the postponed election is to give the APC ample time to manipulate the card readers especially in areas where they know that they are weak when the card readers didn’t function so that they will use a manual register. They intend to resort to the use of incident forms.”

While displaying before newsmen invitation letter to PDP members by the Police stated “Part of their plot is to arrest many of our leaders and members so that they cannot mobilise members to vote for the party and they have started doing that. Their purpose is to keep our leaders at home, the governor has paid huge money to militants and lodged in hotels

“Instead of canvassing for support for their candidate they are resorting to intimidation of our members and attempt to induce them with Prado Jeeps and for those who refused thugs were sent after them. They are attacking our members just for the fact that they know the election will be won by Pastor Ize-Iyamu.”

But in his reaction, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Kassim Afegbua denied the allegation and said the PDP was jittery ahead of the election. “It is obvious the PDP are jittery over the elections because of their mosquito campaigns as opposed to community campaigns with a grand finale that shook the entire state at Ogbe stadium before the unfortunate postponement.

“While we took over the state by storm with our grand finale, PDP governors sneaked to town and held their own rally in a 12 by 13 room size. What does that tell you? We were more prepared for elections than the PDP.

“Secondly, following the arrest of some militants now who are being arraigned, it was obvious that the security threat was real. The Police and DSS have been able to make a successful arrest of militants who were hitherto recruited to cause violence in the state and their confessions have simply explained the devilish intention of the PDP.

“Thirdly, it is only PDP that has the notorious ingenuity to buy PVC from voters because they have never loved the voting process or our mantra of one man, one vote. If there is anyone buying PVC, PDP is it and we have made a useful arrest too. By and large, PDP is guilty as charged. Whatever alarm we have raised, has been confirmed by revelations and arrests that have been made.

“Rather than preparing for elections, they are busy carrying out nocturnal meetings and recruiting thugs and militants to the state to perpetrate evil. We will meet them at the election ground and trounce them silly in our typical fashion. We are waiting for our victory songs after the election.” (The Guardian)

•Photo shows Governor Oshiomhole.

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