Incumbent governor and candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in yesterday’s governorship election in Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has warned that there will be trouble if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disenfranchises the electorate and declare another person the winner.
The governor who spoke yesterday shorthly after casting his vote at Iyamo in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state blamed INEC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of colluding in “Scientific rigging”.
His words: “They planned it and executed it this way. Its a shame that they have programmed this to embarrass the Nigerian nation. If INEC do not allow the people to vote and they pronounce the winner, there will be trouble.”
Futthermore, Oshiomhole said, “Fifty-five percent of voters are in Edo South and forty percent in Benin City, and they think they can deprive the people the opportunity to vote.
Professor Jega has failed because I wrote a petition that they are buying voters card. We will all go to court before God. They know that if it is two people remaining they will not vote for them.”
Meanwhile, it was a tumultuous turnout of eligible voters in Edo North Senatorial district as most voting centres and units recorded massive voters who trooped out as early as 5: 30 am waiting patiently for the arrival of accreditation materials by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC officials.
At Akpekpe Primary School in Auchi , Estako West materials for accreditation arrived at exactly 8:30 am which heralded the commencement of accreditation of voters in the presence of security agents who ensured orderliness.
The situation was the same at Our Lady of Fatima Primary school which also recorded large turnout of voters. However, there were complaints of missing names in the INEC registers by some voters who threatened to disrupt the exercise before they were taken way by policemen.
At Iyamo in Etsako West local government area, the home town of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was among the first to be accredited at about 10am at Iyamo Primary School and later cast his vote at about 2: 30 pm. He expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the election by INEC in certain parts of the state.
Oshiomhole while accusing INEC of failing to meet its promise of conducting a free and fair election however, warned of an impending danger if the wrong candidate is announced as the winner in the election.
He specifically said INEC materials were deliberately delayed from coming to Oredo and Egor local government areas in Benin, adding that it was an attempt by INEC to skew the election in favour of the opposition PDP in state.
He told journalists that information reaching him indicated that thumb printing and ballox box stuffing was on-going at the resident of one PDP billionaire business man in Benin.
Okunbo when contacted debunked the allegation saying there was no iota of truth in what the governor was saying, “ I was at community Primary school where I cast my vote and came back home urging the youths to be law abiding as they vote. The allegation by Oshiomhole is embarrassing to me; they are shaking by what the outcome of the result will be “he added.
Oshiomhole while addressing newsmen stated “They plan not to bring out the voting materials on time and as we speak in Oredo Local government area, Benin City and Egor local government area, the heart of Benin City materials have not got to majority of the polling booths after 11 am and? at the? New Era College Upper Mission Road, they brought fake voters register different from the one the people registered,” he noted.