Today, Edo State will literally be a battlefield. The governorship election, which will be held in the state, has all the ingredients of war. The incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, is serving out his maximum two terms in office and he is leaving nothing to chance as he tries to install a successor.
 
But the ruling party at the federal level, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which lost the state through a political misunderstanding between Obaseki and his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, is doing all in its power to return to the Edo State Government House.  
 
However, the participation of the Labour Party (LP), which came into national limelight during last year’s presidential election when former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, propelled a movement of young people and fresh voters called the Obidients into political action, has made the election a three-horse race.
 
Thus, the unpredictability of the outcome of the election gave rise to a lot of shadow boxing, accusation and counter accusation by the strong parties on the ballot during the campaigns.
 
For instance, recently, a former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was fingered as an interested party in the election. His name and possible influence have continued to form part of the strengths and weaknesses of the major gladiators, especially Asue Ighodalo of the PDP and Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC. Also, the fact that Wike’s cousin, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, is the current State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State strengthens the belief in some quarters that the former River State governor is part of those that will determine the outcome of the poll.
 
During his appearance on a Channels Television programme, ‘Politics Today’, recently, the FCT minister disclosed how Obaseki brought Ighodalo to his residence to seek his endorsement. While insisting that he would not support any side in the election, Wike expressed regret that the Edo State governor mounted a campaign of calumny against the REC, wondering whether Obaseki did not know that his cousin was the REC when he brought Ighodalo to beg for his support.
 
What makes Wike appear as someone capable of influencing the outcome of the election is that apart from his cousin being the REC, he is still in PDP while holding an appointment as a minister in the APC cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he supported against his party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 presidential election. So, the PDP has been agitating for the removal of the REC fearing that Wike could use him to repeat what he did to the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 poll.
 
The call for the removal of the Edo REC was made at a press conference by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, where the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, emphasised the necessity of the change to ensure a transparent election.
 
The party condemned Onuoha’s appointment, labelling him as “overtly partisan” and susceptible to bias and manipulation by the APC. The party argued that his presence undermines the prospects of a credible election in Edo State.
 
While PDP is afraid of the likely influence of a possible anti-party activity by the FCT minister, Oshiomhole has been taking the APC candidate around the state to solicit the support of the electorate.
 
Oshiomhole, now the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, is the APC leader in the state. From every indication, both PDP and Obaseki are afraid that the former labour leader wants to bounce as a political godfather in the state. And the atmosphere in the state now could best be described as tense.
 
Obaseki last week declared that the Saturday election is a do-or-die matter. As the leader of the party in the state, the governor opposed the signing of the Peace Accord. He said it was not proper for PDP to sign a peace accord when the police had been arresting leaders of the party, alleging that no less than 14 chieftains of the party had been arrested and taken to Abuja two weeks to the election.
 
Reiterating the governor’s stand, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Joseph Eboigbe, said they would sign the peace accord only after the arrested members are either released or charged to court. He, however, gave assurance of the state government’s commitment to the safety of all stakeholders during the election.
 
Commenting on the peace accord, Edo State chairman of the party, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, said the police had shown that they were partisan, adding: “In the course of preparations for this election, however, strange and disturbing new elements have been introduced in particular by a party that has apparently reached the conclusion that it cannot prevail in a free, fair and peaceful election.”
 
He added that entering a peace accord with an umpire who, from the onset, had shown bias, acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP, was unnecessary.
 
The PDP said it would  consider signing the peace accord on the  condition that the police would ensure , “the immediate and unconditional release/production of all persons currently in unlawful custody or all these persons if alleged to have committed any crime should be immediately brought before a court of competent jurisdiction in compliance with all civilised constitutional processes.”
 
The Chairman of the Peace Accord Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), who emphasised the importance of the accord, had said that it signifies a commitment to put the people’s interests above individual or party ambitions. He highlighted the need for campaigns free of hate speech, violence and incitement, urging candidates to accept the outcome of the election provided it is deemed free, fair and credible.
 
National Peace Committee Convener, Bishop Matthew Kukah, equally urged the people of Edo to come out and vote. He also advised candidates to seek legal redress if dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, noting that the peace committee has mechanisms to resolve election-related disputes.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, promised that the police would remain impartial, professional and vigilant in ensuring a level playing field for all political parties. He urged stakeholders to embrace peace and tolerance, ensuring a conducive environment for a credible and peaceful election where voters can exercise their rights without fear or intimidation.
 
Amid the fireworks, the PDP had urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to take steps to ensure a free and fair election. The party had also requested the IGP to redeploy the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Nemo Edwin-Iwo, to enhance confidence, peace and security during the election.
 
Nevertheless, the Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, campaigned around the state believing that while the APC and the PDP engaged in disagreements, Edo voters would hand him victory.
 
Akpata brought Mr. Peter Obi to the state twice in a space of one week to help him shore up his support base. Although Edo is believed to be the capital of the Obidients, prospective voters complain that the fact that Akpata hails from the same senatorial district as the outgoing governor is one factor that may affect their consideration of the LP candidate.