Edo guber: PDP worries over alleged arrest, harassment of members 

Edo North has agreed to vote APC, says Momoh 

Ahead of the September governorship election in Edo State, the Director General of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, yesterday accused the Edo State Police Command of harassment and intimidation of its members.

Briefing newsmen in Benin, Iduoriyekemwen said that efforts must be intensified to monitor activities, leading up to the election to ensure that government institutions, especially the police, do not undermine the polls.

He said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a responsible party, and campaign organisation, shall continue to abide by the rules of engagement as spelled out in the Constitution and electoral act.

Iduoriyekemwen said: “We are also aware that they have compiled a list of prominent PDP chieftains from across the state’s three senatorial districts, and even procured fake court warrants of arrest with names of PDP members, whom they plan to abduct to weaken the party ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

“Among the names believed to be on this list include Odion Olaye, Francis Inegbeneki,  Olukoga, Festus Osaigbovo,  Kelly Inedegbor, Chairman of Esan North East Local Council,  among others, whose identities have yet to be confirmed.”

MEANWHILE, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, at the weekend, said that the people of Edo North Senatorial District have collectively agreed that Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be voted for on September 21.

Momoh was speaking in Ekpon, Igueben Local Council of Edo State, during the APC’s ward-to-ward campaign.

He said: “If Edo North and Edo South have agreed to vote for the APC candidate, why will Edo Central, which brought the candidate, not vote for him?”

On his part, Okpebholo expressed optimism that the APC would win the September 21 governorship election, stating that Edo State is not for sale. Also speaking during the ward-to-ward campaign, a former Governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, said that if Ighodalo of the PDP is voted for, it means that the current governor, Godwin Obaseki, is still in power.

The coordinator of the APC campaign council in Edo Central Senatorial District, Odianosen Okojie, appealed to the party supporters to come out en masse on September 21 to cast their vote for the APC.