APC planning to manipulate Edo poll, says commissioner

The Edo State Government has issued a stern warning about the potential for a nationwide crisis if the opposition All Progressives Congress fails to allow a free and fair gubernatorial election in the state on September 21, 2024.

This is according to a statement released on Monday by the special assistant on Media projects, Crusoe Osagie, and signed by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare.

The government clarified recent comments made by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

According to Nehikhare, the governor at a stakeholders meeting on July 21, 2024, stated, “If a free and fair election is not allowed to hold sway in Edo State on September 21, 2024, it will trigger a major crisis in Nigeria.”

The statement comes in response to what the government describes as attempts by the APC to “negatively spin” Obaseki’s remarks. Nehikhare accused the opposition party of planning to use violence to influence the election outcome.

The commissioner cited recent incidents of violence allegedly perpetrated by APC supporters, including an attack at the Benin Airport on July 18, which resulted in the death of a police officer and destruction of property.

He also mentioned an assault on the Nigerian Bar Association Secretariat, where lawyers were reportedly intimidated and harassed.

“As they say, the morning shows the day and the APC has clearly shown their plan for the September 21 governorship election in the State, which is to cause mayhem, make the State ungovernable, and take advantage of the chaos to manipulate the forthcoming governorship election,” Nehikhare stated.

The government warned that given the current economic hardships facing the country, irresponsible behaviour by political actors could ignite a widespread crisis.

Nehikhare added, “This note of caution is even more appropriate with the ominous threat of a nationwide protest with the potential to degenerate into a widespread breakdown of law and order.”

The statement further urged residents to continue their lawful activities without fear and called on the Nigerian Police to apprehend the identified perpetrators of recent violence.

The government also offered to provide video evidence from its surveillance system to aid police investigations.

“While we urge all Edo people to go about their lawful businesses without fear, we call on the Nigerian Police to do its job and apprehend the hoodlums, most of whom have been positively identified and captured in videos, carrying firearms at the location of the crisis.

“The Edo State Government, through its robust security video surveillance, is ready to supply these videos taken in real-time to help the Police in their investigation,” the commissioner said.