ELEVEN days to the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, there is tension in the polity amid fears of violence breaking out during the exercise especially as leading political parties trade allegations and counter-allegations of violent rigging plots.
Some events ahead of the poll have taken the frightening dimension of violence. Nobody has been prosecuted or convicted over a sad incident in July around the Benin airport, a development that has stirred worries in the minds of keen observers on issues of safety of electorates in some areas on election day.
According to media reports, a policeman, Inspector Onu Ako attached to the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Okpebholo, was shot dead shortly after Honourable Philip Shuabu returned to the state from Abuja where he secured a federal High court victory challenging his sack as deputy governor.
Leaders and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, traded blames over what led to the death of the cop and which side was likely responsible. Both sides also alleged that their supporters suffered physical injuries that day.
Few days ago, Mr Blessing Agbebaku, a senior aide to the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Samson Omorebokhai, was allegedly ambushed and shot dead around Ozalla in Owan West Local Government Area.
In another development, the ruling PDP and its rival APC were at each other’s jugular t over an alleged attempt to disrupt the latter’s campaign rally in Akoko Edo Local Government Area by persons dressed as masquerades and Okada riders. Some APC party members allegedly sustained injuries in the incident.
It would also be recalled that on April 12, some suspected students invaded an interactive session between the Candidate of Labour Party, Mr Olumide Akpata, and some members of the senior staff club of the University of Benin. A lecturer reportedly sustained an injury and was rushed to the hospital.
Akpata alleged after the incident that a senior politician in the state mobilized those who invaded the university campus to carry out the attack.
Amid the rising tension, the leading candidates including the sole female standard bearer, Ndidi Patience Key of the People’s Redemption Party, PRP, have been traversing the state wooing voters in what three have emerged as front runners.
The top three contenders are Dr Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC, and Mr Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party., LP.
Penultimate week, five of the 17 political parties cleared for the contest withdrew, and declared their support for Okpebholo of the APC.
The parties, namely: National Rescue Movement, Alliance Peoples Movement, Zenith Labour Party, Social Democratic Party and Action Democratic Party, said they were convinced in the capacity of the APC to drive development in the state, thus pledging to work for its victory.
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