EDO GOVT ACCUSES PDP OF PLOTTING AGAINST RERUN ELECTION

A Federal High Court in Benin City yesterday refused to grant the request of six persons to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting the rerun election into the Akoko-Edo  Constituency II with the 2007 voters' registration.

The court presided over by Justice Adamu Hobon refused to grant the request of six persons, Victor  Gaius, Bose Owolewa, Godfrey Akpaida, Samson Alabi, Sandra Gani and Amunega David who are plaintiffs in the suit to stop the (INEC) from using the 2007 voters' register.

This development comes on the heels of allegations by the state government that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was planning to unleash mayhem in the Akoko-Edo Constituency II to disrupt the election over alleged insinuations that it might not be able to win the election.

A statement yesterday by the Commissioner for Information, Anselm Ojezua alleged that the plans were being coordinated by a high ranking officer of Edo State origin in the Presidency. He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that none of his officials used state machinery to truncate the election.

In a swift reaction, Director of Organisation of the PDP, Paschal Ugbome denied the allegations saying 'it is laughable; everybody knows that the ACN is known for thuggery and cultism. Their ward congresses and primaries attest to the fact that the PDP is not a violent party that does not believe in thuggery. Rather than killing, they woo people to their side.'

But the ACN said yesterday that rather than embark on campaigns for the rerun, the PDP was busy spreading rumours that since it controled the judiciary, it had secured an injunction to stop the exercise.

The ACN said: 'When we say the PDP is not on ground, this is a typical example. It is a party that is bleeding. Across the local government areas, the PDP was busy jubilating that the election was put on hold. We asked the PDP to stop day-dreaming and face the challenge.

We are in Ikpeshi, Atte, Egbigere campaigning but the PDP is happy over what they don't understand. We urge our people to ignore PDP's diversionary and wicked tactics of politics. It is mere propaganda, falsehood and mischief. Our people should go out to vote for ACN tomorrow.'