PIC.21. PRESIDENT MUHAMMAD BUHARI (M) PRESENTING THE EDO APC GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE, MR GODWIN OBASEKI (L) AND DEPUTY GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE, MR PHILIP SHAIBU (R) DURING THE APC MEGA RALLY FOR THE 2016 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION AT THE SAMUEL OGBEMUDIA STADIUM IN BENIN ON TUESDAY (6/9/16). WITH THEM ARE FORMER GOVERNOR OF YOBE, SEN. ABBA IBRAHIM (L); GOV. ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE AND HIS WIFE LARA (R). 6804//6/9/2016/ESI/BJO/NAN
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has frowned at the decision of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to extend the state’s governorship election by two weeks.
INEC had yesterday succumbed to calls by security agencies to postponed the election scheduled for Saturday, due to issues of insecurity.
The election umpire had announced the postponement of the election by two weeks.
But featuring on Channels Television programme, Politics Today, Oshiomhole said the two weeks shift was “too long,” stressing that the election should have been postponed by one week.
He, however, denied reports that the All Progressives Congress, APC, was behind the postponement.
Oshiomhole said, “I think two weeks is too long. But first let me say that we have reported to the police and the police arrested PDP officials who collided with INEC electoral officer in Etsako central to use the data capturing machine in the home of PDP leaders.
“We also have evidence of the infiltration of militants. I have security reports. As for the two weeks, I think INEC is putting it too long. On the 24th would be two weeks, and on the 26th is the coronation of the Oba of Benin. Before that day, there are couple of things that the crown prince is expected to do. I don’t think it will be fair to put an election in that period that a major event will happen in this kingdom.
“If INEC was ready to do election today, what is wrong with doing it next week? Next week will be fine. Two weeks is too far.
“Like everybody else, I was very surprised and I made a comment on that. First, we had our final rally on Tuesday, if I had an idea that the election would be postponed, we would have postponed our rally.
“The whole idea was to bring our rally to a close so that we can spend time dealing with election logistics.
“If they have doubts that Edo State belongs to the APC, that our people have accepted APC for good, the outcome of our rally would have shown them.
“PDP was afraid to use an open space for a rally, they used a small hall, even at that, they couldn’t get enough people to fill the hall, but we had the stadium overflowing, sea of heads. I have never seen that kind of crowd in my life. So, who is afraid?”
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