Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Edo governorship election, has raised concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police. Ighodalo believes that INEC might use personnel from Imo and Kogi states for the election, which he argues could undermine trust in the process. He has asked INEC to use staff from states known for conducting fair elections, rather than from Imo and Kogi.
Ighodalo also criticized the police, claiming they have shown bias in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a recent interview, he said that many of his supporters have been arrested without proper reasons. He noted that despite filing complaints with the state’s Commissioner of Police, Nemo Edwin-Iwo, no action has been taken.
He stated, “I believe INEC should aim to conduct a fair election. After seeing the issues in Imo and Kogi, INEC should reassess its processes to ensure a fair and unbiased election. My concern is with the police, who have been arresting our supporters without clear reasons. According to the law, anyone arrested should be charged in court within 24 hours or released on bail if no charges are filed. Yet, our supporters are being held without explanation.”
Ighodalo expressed worry that the police might be biased in favor of the APC, although he does not believe this is a direct order from the president, whom he has known for many years. He urged that the environment be fair and free of intimidation so that voters can choose their leaders without pressure.
He added, “We want a fair environment for everyone. It is troubling when people are arrested and taken away without knowing the reason. Some of our supporters have been held for over three weeks with no charges or explanations. This kind of treatment creates a perception of unfairness.”
Regarding INEC’s potential use of officials from Imo and Kogi, Ighodalo urged INEC to use fresh officials from states with a history of fair elections. He said, “We want to avoid rumors and stick to facts. We request that INEC send officials from places known for conducting transparent and fair elections. We prefer not to have officials from Kogi or Imo involved in our election process.”
Ighodalo’s comments reflect growing concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the need for a fair and unbiased election environment in Edo state.
