Politicians amassing arms to disrupt Edo poll, says CDD

• TB Joshua debunks rumoured prophecy on election
• Obaseki gets monarch’s backing, vows to maintain peace
• Abudu didn’t give lie to INEC, says Edo APC

Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) has alleged that some political actors were stockpiling arms ahead of the Edo State governorship election billed for September 19, 2020.

The centre disclosed this yesterday in its pre-election statement entitled ‘New Allegiances, Familiar Faces: A Preview of Edo’s 2020 Gubernatorial Election’.

It alleged that some politicians were plotting to unleash mayhem in the state as the elections get closer, adding that its concerns were based on documented open display of small arms and light weapons during a campaign rally in Okpella town, Etsako East Council of the state.

Highlighting some of the early warning signs, which portend grave danger for Nigeria’s electoral process, CDD stressed that some activities exhibited by political actors in the state sought to undermine the election.

The group, therefore, cautioned that the challenges, if not urgently addressed, would compromise the elections and taint the sanctity of the vote.

Calling for adoption of issue-based campaigns, the group said the dearth of engaging conversations, to enable citizens know the candidate and party with the best governance ideas, had undermined the very essence of the electoral process.

In another development, the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Temitope Balogun Joshua, has debunked the rumour on social media that he gave a prophecy regarding the Edo election.

TB Joshua, in his social media account, noted that the story was entirely false, urging Nigerians not to believe every story published online.

“God requires that we find out the truth from him first and hold fast to that which is true. Don’t listen to the father of lies, the sons and daughters of lies,” the cleric warned.

According to him, Emmanuel TV is the only official mouthpiece of SCOAN.

GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, have got the express endorsement of the traditional ruler of Irahor Community in Etsako Central Council, HRH Jackson Etokhana, who promised to mobilise thousands of his subjects to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in election.

This is just as the governor said he would continue to pursue peace, even in the face of provocation.

The Ogiamu of Irahor expressed his support yesterday when Obaseki led members of the Edo PDP Governorship Campaign Council to his palace.

Etokhana said his non-partisan posture as a traditional ruler did not stop him from taking a stand on issues of governance in the state, reassuring that his people would not follow the opposition party.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

Also, at the palace of the Egiegbai II of Ekperi Kingdom, HRH Deke Obaseki, the governor assured: “I will continue to do everything within my powers, even in the face of provocation from opposition, to ensure that our dear state is peaceful.”

In another vein, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that its deputy governorship candidate, Abudu Audu, never submitted false educational qualifications to INEC.

Chairman of the party’s legal team, Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa, said the report being circulated in the social media on false claims were “outlandish, malicious and false”.

In a statement yesterday, West-Idahosa insisted: “The name description of Abudu Ganiyu Audu contained in his educational qualification submitted to INEC for the election correctly belongs to him, and in some cases are abbreviations or synonyms of his name.”