As the September 21 governorship election in Edo State draws closer, the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, has raised serious allegations against Senator Adams Oshiomhole and the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of planning to disrupt and manipulate the election process.
In a press briefing held in Benin City on Sunday, Nehikhare claimed that Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and a key APC leader, was allegedly working in collaboration with the Commander of Mopol 60 and his men to sabotage the election in his hometown of Iyamho.
According to Nehikhare, there are already plans in motion to use the Commander of Mopol 60 and his personnel to shield APC supporters while they tamper with election materials at polling units around Oshiomhole’s residence in Iyamho. The Commissioner alleged that these actions would involve taking ballot papers and other materials into Oshiomhole’s premises, where they would be manipulated to favor the APC.
“The APC Governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, will replicate the outstanding performance of the past APC leadership in the state, led by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole,” Nehikhare said, adding that the people of Edo State should brace themselves for potential disruption. He claimed that similar events occurred during the 2020 governorship election, and despite warnings, the situation went unaddressed.
“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 1,000 votes were recorded,” Nehikhare stated.
Nehikhare went on to accuse APC agents of mass-producing masks and police uniforms to disguise thugs who would be deployed to disrupt the election process in key areas of the state. He mentioned that the state government had uncovered plans by APC supporters to intimidate voters in wards and units where they knew they stood little chance of winning.
“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,” he alleged.
The commissioner further elaborated that the thugs would be deployed in areas such as Okpella, Lampese, Fugar, Ibillo, and Agenebode, where the APC reportedly fears defeat. “The APC has concluded plans to use thugs veiled in those masks and police uniforms to disrupt the electoral process and intimidate voters in those areas,” he said.
Nehikhare also accused a prominent APC leader of gathering thugs at his home in Egor Local Government Area, claiming that the group is under the protection of the Textile Mill Police Station. These thugs, he said, are being prepared to disrupt the voting process in Egor.
“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 areas of the state, beginning from Ologbo, Nikorogha, all the way to Siluko,” Nehikhare disclosed. He added that these militants have already been transported into the state and lodged in various hotels, ready to act on Election Day.
The Edo State government, through Nehikhare, has called on security agencies to act swiftly in addressing these allegations and ensuring a free and fair election. The commissioner urged the police and other security bodies to investigate the claims of collusion, the mass production of uniforms, and the mobilization of thugs, stressing the need for heightened security measures to prevent the electoral process from being compromised.
“We are giving this information for the security agencies to act swiftly to arrest or dislodge these thugs and plans,” Nehikhare concluded.
As of the time of this report, neither Senator Adams Oshiomhole nor the APC had issued an official statement in response to the allegations. However, these accusations have sparked concerns about the integrity of the upcoming election and the potential for violence, with calls for transparency and vigilance from electoral observers and security operatives alike.
The September 21 governorship election is expected to be fiercely contested, with Senator Monday Okpebholo representing the APC and other candidates vying for the governorship position.
