The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the use of “Federal might” in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State.

PDP insisted that the people would resist any attempt to manipulate the election.

At a press conference addressed by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP also vowed to support the people of Edo State in their legal quest to resist the constant harassment, intimidation, and indiscriminate arrest of its members across the State, by Policemen attached to the Inspector General of Police Response Team.

It said acts of irresponsibility should not be allowed to continue because the people of Edo State are not only prepared to vote but are prepared to protect their votes come Saturday.

The party charged its supporters and the people of the state interested in peace, security, and progress to resist any attempt by anyone to deny them their constitutionally guaranteed rights to exercise their franchise.

It asked its agents to take photographs of the election results and ensure that they are uploaded on the INEC portal before leaving the polling unit.

The party also encouraged voters to go to the polls with their food and water and ensure that they follow the process by ensuring that their votes are counted, collated, and uploaded before they leave.

On the harassment of its members, the PDP noted that it had 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 members, 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.” The PDP stressed.

The party alleged that these harassments, arrests and torture of its 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.

“Against this backdrop, the PDP states in clear terms that our Party and the people of Edo State will not fold our 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.”