As voters start to troop out en mass, there is a significant deployment of security personnel in the state’s capital, Benin.
9News Nigeria reports that a large number of officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been mobilized across the city, causing traffic congestion in several areas.
This follows the recent deployment of 35,000 police officers to maintain law and order during the elections.
The NSCDC also deployed 6,433 officers, while the Defence Headquarters has stationed soldiers to ensure a safe environment for voters.
Security personnel were spotted at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Benin, securing strategic locations, with some awaiting further deployment to other parts of the state.
In addition, authorities have implemented a “show of force” with security agents patrolling key areas.
In anticipation of the election, the Edo State Government declared Friday a work-free day to allow voters to travel to their polling units.
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) held a prayer session in Benin, calling for peace and the election of a credible leader who will govern with integrity.
INEC has also commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to all 18 local government areas, ensuring readiness for Saturday’s vote.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the fake news circulated that its candidate Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has stepped down from the Edo governorship race.
The party described the reports as “another feeble display of APC’s pre-defeat trauma which should be ignored by the public.”
“APC’s resort to peddling fake news against the candidature of Asue Ighodalo on the eve of the election is another failed propaganda ploy which further confirms that the APC and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo have already given up being rattled and heavily intimidated by by Dr. Asue Ighodalo’s overwhelming winning popularity across Edo State.
“The APC, in its attempt to fake the PDP letterhead and the signatures of our Acting National Chairman and National Secretary ended up ridiculing itself by using the wrong logo in the document and representing same as that of the PDP.
“By this despicable act, the APC has sunk deeper into the abyss of shame and rejection as a cesspit of lies, deceit and falsehood.
“The APC continues to fail in its several bids to stop Dr. Asue Ighodalo and will ultimately experience a crushing defeat at the poll on Saturday,” PDP spokesman, Deborah Ologunagba said a statement.
He retitrates that Ighodalo is very much in the Saturday, September 21, 2024 Edo State Governorship election race, adding that he enjoys the full support of the people of Edo State.
“Not even the propaganda, lies, manipulation, plots to cause confusion and violence by the APC will change his sail to victory.
PDP demands that the Police immediately invite and question APC leaders involved in this cowardly act including one Aye S O Egberi, a self-confessed Director of APC All The Way, who posted the said deceptive material on his social media handle,” he added.
APC Thugs Arrested
Thugs alleged to have been sent by the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been arrested with guns and other weapons by security operatives in Edo State.
This comes ahead of the Edo State off-cycle governorship election scheduled for September 21st, 2024.
A video shared by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on its X handle on Friday night, alleged that the thugs were sponsored and sent by the APC ahead of the poll.
The video showed the moment security operatives apprehended the suspects in a Sienna vehicle and recovered the guns and other materials from them.
Voices in the background in the video continued shouting that the thugs were sent by the APC.
A post by PDP to accompany the video reads, “Security Operatives and the people of Edo State apprehend @OfficialAPCNg thugs trying to smuggle guns into Edo State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
“We salute the courage of the Edo people in their determination to ensure that only the Will of the people prevails.”
The APC is yet to react to this allegation and the video at the time of filing this report.
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