With less than 24 hours to the Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency bye-elections, political tension has heightened following allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is plotting to disrupt the polls through violence.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, APC State Chairman Emperor Jarrett Tenebe alleged that the PDP, led by caretaker chairman Tony Aiziegbemi and chieftain Chief Francis Inegbeniki, had ferried in armed thugs from neighbouring states to intimidate voters and attack polling stations.
According to Tenebe, intelligence reports revealed that the suspected thugs were seen converging on Inegbeniki’s residence in Opoji, Esan West, before being deployed to “strategic points” in Edo Central. He further claimed that a separate group of “strange-looking young men” in unmarked buses were stationed at Aiziegbemi’s residence in Benin City before allegedly heading to Ovia North East and Ovia South West.
The APC chairman also linked the accused PDP leaders to past electoral violence, including the killing of Police Inspector Unoh Akor during last year’s governorship election, alleging that no action had been taken against the perpetrators.
Calling on security agencies to intervene, Tenebe warned that his party would “defend the votes” cast for its candidates, Joe Ikpea and Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, insisting that the APC had campaigned vigorously and expected to win fairly.
“Election is not war,” he stressed. “But if the PDP insists on their evil plans, they will meet resistance.”
The statement concluded with a rallying call for voters to come out en masse on Saturday, with Tenebe declaring that the outcome would be “a testament to Edo’s commitment to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.”
As of press time, the PDP had yet to respond to the allegations.
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