Orhionmwon Re-run: Edo PDP Alleges Rigging Plot

SAN FRANCISCO, April 07, (THEWILL)  – As preparations for Saturday's re-run of the National Assembly election in Orhionmwon Federal Constituency of Edo State gather momentum, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tuesday, alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has perfected a plan to rig the election.

A statement issued by Chris Osa Nehikhare, the State PDP Publicity Secretary, said: “We have uncovered plans by Edo APC in collusion with some INEC staffers to rig the senatorial and House of Representatives elections in favour of Hon. Samson Osagie and Hon. Aisowieren.

“They have agreed to jettison the use of the card readers for the suspended Orhionmwon elections and do manual accreditation where they plan to increase beyond imagination the number of accredited voters in the said election.

“This is ominous and unacceptable. Historically, Orhionmwon has never accredited more than 33000 voters and at the moment, even though Orhionmwon registered just a little above 97,000, less than 70,000 PVCs were distributed. Going with the result across the state in the last election of March 28, 2015, where we beat APC silly, no local government hit 50 percent of voters as regards PVCs collected.”

According to Nehikhare, “In Oredo, the most populous local government, under 35 percent of PVCs collected, voted. Therefore, in Orhionmwon, less than 30,000 voters are expected. PDP candidate for Senate at the moment is leading with over 27,000 votes while our candidate for House of Representatives who incidentally is from Orhionmwon is leading with over 3,500 votes.

“We are also aware that in their desperation to have unfretted access to state funds, Edo APC-led government has now gone on a spending spree buying up all manners of failed politicians, intimidating and threatening our supporters and even law enforcement agents, boasting that “we are in control now” and as usual, arming thugs.

“ Let it be clearly understood, in-as-much as we all want peace in this state and in-as-much as we have tolerated the falsehood been peddled by the APC-led Edo State Government, this does not mean that we are weak or powerless.

“Let it be clearly understood by all and sundry that any attempt to kill, maim or molest our supporters in Orhionmwon, or indeed in any other part of Edo State either before, during or after Saturday's elections by the APC, their supporters or their friends and agents will be deemed unacceptable and will be met with defiance, contempt and a well-orchestrated and solid resistance.

“We are aware that the desperation of Governor Oshiomhole, his Deputy Odubu and INEC's complicity led to the suspension of an election that was going on perfectly.

“We take this opportunity to urge the PDP faithful in Edo State to go out and vote en-masse for the PDP. We urge them to vote for our Senatorial candidate, House of Representatives candidates and all our House of Assembly candidates so we can free Edo State from the shackles of darkness, oppression, intimidation and financial recklessness.

“We urge them to stand firm, to hold their heads up high and to do their very best. The message is, Edo Must be free… Change must come to Edo.”