The Edo State government has made a damning allegation against former governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
The state government accused him of planning to rig the forthcoming governorship election in polling units around his hometown in Iyamho.
Recall that the Edo Governorship election will be taking place on September 21.
However, the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, while speaking during a press conference in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Sunday, claimed that Oshiomhole was colluding with the Commander of Mopol and his men to sabotage the election in his hometown.
Nehikhare claimed that the same scenario played out in the last election in 2020.
The Commissioner said, “We are aware of plans that have already been concluded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole to engage the Commander of Mopol 60 and his men who have been engaged to provide shield in the polling units around Senator Oshiomhole’s home in Iyamho in order to allow the Senator and his supporters take the ballot papers and all election materials into his premises and thumbprint all the ballot papers for APC, leaving other parties with no chances of getting fair votes. In the last elections, we gave this information but it was ignored. The BVAS report validated our report as 210 people were accredited but over 1000 votes were recorded.”
Nehikhare alleged that the state government had uncovered massive production of masks and police uniforms by APC agents to veil their thugs to disrupt voting processes in units and wards where they knew they stood no chance of victory.
“Only recently, a chieftain of the APC wore one of those uniforms and the police even presented a defence for such wanton display of impersonation.
“Having confirmed that they cannot win in Okpella, Lampese, Fugar, Ibillo and Agenebode, the APC has concluded plans to use thugs veiled in those masks and police uniforms which they produced to disrupt electoral process and intimidate voters in those areas.
“In Egor Local Government Area, the APC has gathered thugs in the home of a prominent APC leader as well as other houses in the neighborhood under the shield of the Textile Mill Police Station in order to disrupt the voting process in Egor Local Government Area.
“We also uncovered plans by the House of Representatives member representing Ovia Constituency who has engaged about 200 militants for the purpose of disrupting election materials and electoral officials in the riverine axis of the State beginning from Ologbo, Nikorogha, all the way to Siluko. We also understand that these militants have already been ferried into the state and lodged into various hotels. We are giving this information for the security agencies to act swiftly to arrest or dislodge these thugs and plans,” Nehikare added.
