The Edo State government has revealed alarming information about the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly planning to disrupt the upcoming elections. According to state officials, the APC has been involved in producing masks and police uniforms to disguise their supporters, who they plan to use to interfere with the voting process in areas where they are not expected to win.
Chris Osa Nehikhare, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, disclosed these details at a press conference on Sunday. Nehikhare explained that recently, an APC leader was seen wearing one of these police uniforms. This act of impersonation has even been defended by some police officers, which Nehikhare condemned as unacceptable and unethical.
Nehikhare also revealed that a member of the House of Representatives from the Ovia Constituency has recruited around 200 militants. These militants are allegedly stationed to disrupt election materials and harass electoral officials in the riverine areas of the state, including Ologbo, Nikorogha, and Siluko. Reports indicate that these militants have already been transported into the state and are staying in various hotels, ready to execute their disruptive tasks.
In addition, Nehikhare highlighted disturbing plans to remove all security personnel assigned to Governor Godwin Obaseki. This would leave the governor unprotected during the critical election period and on election day, making him vulnerable to potential attacks or intimidation.
Further allegations were made against Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who is reportedly planning to deploy the Commander of Mopol 60 and his team to secure polling units around his home in Iyamho. The aim is supposedly to allow Oshiomhole and his supporters to manipulate election materials and rig the votes in favor of the APC, depriving other parties of a fair chance.
Nehikhare criticized the previous elections, noting that similar warnings were disregarded, leading to significant discrepancies between the number of accredited voters and the actual votes recorded. He expressed concerns that the APC, unable to secure wins in areas like Okpella, Lampese, Fugar, Ibillo, and Agenebode, has resorted to using thugs disguised in masks and police uniforms to disrupt the electoral process and intimidate voters in these regions.
The Commissioner also accused the APC of gathering thugs in Egor Local Government Area, using the protection of the Textile Mill Police Station as a cover to plan disruptions in the voting process there.
In response to these developments, the Edo State government is urgently calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct security agencies to protect voters and ensure a fair and transparent election. They are also appealing to the international community, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, ECOWAS, and the African Union, to put pressure on President Tinubu to ensure that the people of Edo State can cast their votes freely and fairly.
The state government is demanding immediate action from security agencies to address these threats, prevent potential violence, and safeguard the integrity of the election process.
