Edo guber: State govt alleges plan to withdraw Obaseki’s security detail 

• Yiaga Africa expresses worry over imminent violence during poll
• Court orders INEC to recognise APC polling/collation agent
• AA candidate withdraws from race, backs Okpebholo 

The Edo State government, yesterday, raised the alarm over plans to redeploy security officials attached to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and leave him without protection, rendering him vulnerable ahead of the governorship election, as well as on Election Day.

Briefing newsmen in Benin, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, made the allegation, drawing the attention of the Federal Government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and diplomatic corps saying: “It is our intelligence which we have uncovered ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.”

Nehikhare also appealed to the police to end the indiscriminate arrest of chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He accused security agencies of deploying a squad of policemen from outside the state to begin massive arrest of PDP chieftains perceived to be politically strong in their various constituencies to pave the way for the manipulation of elections in those areas.
Nehihkare said: “This intimidation tactic is irresponsible and most reprehensible.

“Our intelligence has also uncovered massive production of masks and police uniforms by agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to veil their thugs who they plan to deploy to disrupt voting processes in units and wards where they know they do not stand a chance of victory. Only recently, a chieftain of the APC wore one of those uniforms and the police even presented a defence for such a wanton display of impersonation.

MEANWHILE, Yiaga Africa has decried the alarming political and security situation in Edo ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state, saying that the atmosphere has remained tense and unpredictable as tension continued to rise, especially between the APC and PDP.

The Director of Programme, Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, disclosed this to journalists at the weekend in Benin during the Pre-election Observation (PREO) Statement on the 2024 Edo Governorship Election titled, ‘Edo 2024: An Election within the Context of Security Threats, Crisis of Confidence and Economic Hardship.

Mbamalu said that Yiaga Africa’s pre-election reports have revealed the activities of cultists and political thugs in some local councils that if not contained could threaten the peaceful and credible conduct of the election.

ALSO, a Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from excluding the APC polling and collating agents from participating in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo.

The court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite also ordered INEC to temporarily accept and give effect to the list of the polling and collation agents for the poll.

In the case of Suit Number FHC/AB/CS/1326/2024, the APC is challenging the non-recognition of its agents from taking part in the poll.

After hearing the application of APC counsel, Abdulghani Arobo, leading Ayodele Toe and Ayodeji Ibekunle, the judge ordered the electoral commission not to exclude the polling and collation agents, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The case was adjourned to September 18, 2024.

IN the meantime, a front runner in the September 21 governorship election in the state and candidate of Action Alliance (AA), Prince Tom Iseghohi Okojie, yesterday, withdrew from the governorship race, pledging support for the APC’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

Okojie promised to mobilise 65,000 people to vote for the APC.