The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State yesterday raised the alarm that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has perfected plans to rig Saturday’s governorship election by creating pockets of violence across the state during the exercise.
?The PDP said that the ACN had already brought into Benin the leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Alhaji Asari Dokubo along with 500 of his boys to intimidate the electorate and unleash mayhem in some polling units.
?Director of Publicity of the PDP, Mr. Okharedia Ihimekpen said that the plan was to create the condition for violence that would enable ballot box snatching and stuffing. He said the plot also involved filming of the process and turning around to point finger of guilt at the PDP in order to undermine the integrity of the electoral process and the party’s expected victory at the poll.
? However in? a swift reaction yesterday, the Director of Publicity, Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation, Prince Kassim Afegbua? said the ACN was solidly on ground and need not engage external help to win? Saturday’s election adding that the PDP was gasping for breath to stay afloat.
?According to Ihimekpen: “We are aware that Asari Dokubo and 500 of his boys have relocated to Edo State.? They are lodged in different hotels in Benin preparatory to their mobilisation to other parts of the state for the Saturday election.
?“The PDP is committed to winning this election on the basis of transparent voting.? It is the ACN that is planning to rig and because adequate anti-rigging machineries are being put in place to check against rigging, the ACN leaders have become frantic and have now been making bogus claims to be able to rationalise, after the election, the defeat of their candidate.”
?But Kassim said, “It is a known fact that Asari Dokubo attended the Saturday rally of the Action Congress of Nigeria. He is also one Nigerian amongst millions of others who are fond admirers of Comrade Governor for his positive development of the State. We are used to the PDP’s strategy of raising false alarm.
“ We do not need the help of non voters in Edo election. Oshiomhole does not need the service of anyone to rig the election for him because he is solidly on ground and actively supported by the over one million voter residents in Edo.
“What Oshiomhole is asking for is the practice of one man, one vote. How does the PDP intend to win election in Edo State? That will be tantamount to the biblical camel passing through the eye of the needle. How possible?? We are not PDP that strive on the importation of thugs and hooligans into Edo State for the purpose of the election”.
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