Edo 2020: Concerns over increasing violence
National Electoral Commission , Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and other stakeholders have assured that the September 19, 2020 polls will be hitch-free.
“Besides the fact that this 2020 governorship election is actually a sensitive rematch between Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu, some of the major patrons in the two political parties see the contest as the major test of their political relevance and survival. The ugly incident that occurred at the Palace of the Oba of Benin, where suspected political thugs armed with dangerous weapons, including arms and cutlasses, clashed at the main gate, during a courtesy visit to the first-class monarch by chieftains and governors of PDP.
He also alleged that the Edo State governor planned to cripple the businesses of a billionaire entrepreneur, Capt. Hosa Okunbo, an indigene of Edo State, presumed to be Ize-Iyamu’s major backer, and to also arrest and detain other APC leaders, ahead of the September 19 crucial election. The national campaign council of APC blamed Edo governor and the PDP for the violence that broke out on July 25 in Benin, which led to the hospitalisation of multiple persons for gunshot wounds, while accusing Obaseki of setting conscripted thugs and cultists on protesters who expressed their rejection of him and his invitation of tax-collectors, who were feasting on Edo’s treasury.
Obaseki, through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, alleged that the thugs were sponsored by APC, its Edo governorship candidate and a former National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, an ex-governor of Edo state, who he claimed had in the past few days engaged thugs to cause mayhem in Edo.
The council, through its Chairman, Prince John Mayaki, said Edo governor instructed his thugs to attack Edo people, as retribution for publicly booing the governor and his team on arrival at the gate of the Oba of Benin. He maintained that the July 25 courtesy visit on him by governors and leaders of the main opposition PDP at his palace in Benin ended very well.
“The courtesy visit of the esteemed august visitors to the Omo N’Oba ended very well. We were therefore surprised to hear later that there was an incident outside the palace, directly in front of Oredo Local Government Council secretariat. HRM condemns this unruly behaviour that occurred in front of the palace.
Also, the only female governorship candidate in the Edo election, and candidate of African Democratic Congress , Mabel Oboh, did not only condemn the July 25 violence but said something must be done to curtail the possible violence in the forthcoming Edo elections.She described as appalling, the clash between supporters of the leaders of the PDP and the APC at the palace of Oba of Benin.
“The perpetrators should ask themselves questions. Are they in this for personal gains, power or for the interest of the people? According to the protesters, the demonstration became necessary as a result of the recent turn of political activities in the state. They urged the political leaders to maintain peace in the state as they prepare for the poll scheduled for September 19.
“The unnecessary pandemonium that occurred last Saturday afternoon at the city centre when thugs loyal to the two leading political parties in the state, had a violent confrontation during which staccato of gunshots rent the air and created panic across the city, is one of such developments we are talking about. Scores of innocent people were injured in that incident.
According to the statement, Yiaga Africa is set to commence the observation of the pre-election environment including violence monitoring to provide information and recommendation for immediate response by the election stakeholders.
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