Edo 2024: “We Are Not Asking For Any Favour, But Free Polls” – Gov Obaseki

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Edo State Governor has insisted that his  uncompromising stance on the Saturday September 21, 2024 Gubernatorial polls in the State is primarily predicated on the need for the people to freely choose who will lead them.

This is just as he informed that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will abide by the outcome of the election which so far has generated much anxiety and apprehension.

Governor Obaseki had last week led the PDP to shun the signing of a pre-election peace accord.

He had cited premeditated plans by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies, particularly, tge Police  to compromise and manipulate the election in favour of the All Progressive Congress, APC, as a major reason for refusing to assent to the peace pact brokered by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar led Peace-Committee.

Governor Obaseki and PDP requested for the redeployment of the duo of INEC Edo State Resident Commissioner and the Commissioner for Police for their alleged links with Nyesom Wike the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister ,a known sympathizer of APC ,has since been rejected both by the Police and INEC authorities.

But writing on his official site ,Thursday September 19, just two days before the crucial election, Governor Obaseki said the PDP, as a party is not demanding to be favoured in the conduct of the exercise, but is insisting on the creation of a level playing ground for all parties .

The Governor wrote against the backdrop of his official meeting with the visiting Chief of Defence staff, General Christopher Musa .

“We are not asking for any favour ,but are stating that Edo citizens should be free to go to the polls to elect the candidates of their choice.

“We will accept the outcome of a properly conducted election .

“For Eight years, the security forces in the state have been highly cooperative in helping us address security concerns .

“Together, we have established Forward Operating Bases and designed a digitized security architecture that has made Edo one of the safest states in the nation”, Governor Obaseki wrote.

The ruling PDP will on Saturday square up with the APC, Labour Party, and 14 other political platforms to justle for the control of the political soul of Edo State.

Out of the 17 political only the PDP refused to commit officially to the ceremonial peace pact.