CITIZENS COMPASS–Dr Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Edo State governorship election, on Saturday, lamented the continuos arrests of his supporters who were on queues to vote for their candidate.
He called on voters to exercise their franchise despite the challenges.
The PDP candidate said the arrest of his supporters was allegedly effected by gun-wielding men said to be patrolling the State.
The PDP governorship candidate spoke while waiting to cast his vote at Okaegben ward one, unit 3 in Ewohimi area of the State.
He arrived at the polling unit at about 10:30 a.m.
The Governorship candidate condemned the arrest of some PDP supporters in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the state.
Ighodalo called for understanding from voters on the delayed voting caused by the late arrival of voting materials and officials.
“I heard that INEC had been compromised but I do not want to believe it. I want to give the benefit of doubt to INEC that INEC will work and create a free and level playing field. What I had heard before was that INEC will suppress our votes in our strongholds and I am hearing snippets of these activities this morning. Again, I want to give the benefit of doubt to INEC in the next few hours.”
“The INEC chairman has assured that they would do everything possible to give a free and fair election. The rest of the day will show whether they truly and truly have done that.
“The other thing that is bothering me is that there are people moving around and not even dressed in any police or military uniform (who) are arresting our supporters. In Uromi Ward 8 Unit 3 about one hour ago, one of our supporters was arrested by men in mufti carrying guns.
“Again nobody should take a gun to a polling unit. That is against the law, it is against the regulation. You don’t see people behaving the way they are behaving oppressing and trying to intimidate our folks.
“It wont happen, we won’t be intimidated, we won’t be oppressed. People can’t just go about like this and how come it is only PDP supporters that are being arrested? Everyday you see APC supporters doing all of the worst things imaginable but nobody arrests them, nobody even investigates them.”
“He was queuing waiting to be accredited, they should create a level playing field particularly from the Police Force or people who claim to be policemen.”
