Officials of the Independent National
Electoral Commission were today denied
access from conducting their lawful duties
in parts of Edo North according to
Guardian newspaper.

INEC officials were reported to be moving
electoral materials to Ward 10, Unit 1 in
Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area
when they were stopped by army men who
enterred Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s
hometown, the report said.

Oshiomhole Gets Accredited
The officials were made to sit on the ground
with their police escort.
The report said: “They were later allowed to
leave after they got calls from their
superiors,” “The soldiers said they were
acting on strict orders from above.”
The paper reported Governor Adams
Oshiomhole as expressing shock at the
development and wondering why electoral
officials should not be restricted on their
own day.
Even journalists, the report said, were
blocked by the soldiers who insisted “that
were not permitted to monitor the exercise
from one unit to another as they were only
allowed to monitor a particular unit”.
In response to the development, a livid
Governor Oshiomhole said, “Yesterday
(Friday) I addressed the Press and I did say
that Brigadier Odidi has chosen to frustrate
this exercise in Edo North. Ironically,
Brigadier Odidi is from Agenebode and he is
the one who is giving this unlawful order.
“Why the Nigerian Army will be used in this
manner, only God knows. So I am surprised
that they are restricting INEC Officers from
distributing materials. I have told the
Brigade Commander and I am waiting to see
what he is going to do but when you bear
in mind that time is if the essence, if we
finally go and beg the General to please
allow democracy, time is gone.
“First there is no light across the country so
we are going to have everywhere in the
dark. Under such situation, nobody knows
what happens but I refuse to be frustrated
and I appeal to our people not to be
frustrated, we will sort things out.
“It is clear they have serious problem taking
off. As you can see I am here and they say
the card reader is not well programmed, it is
not functioning and I got report from my
Ward Headquarters that there are materials
that are there and apparently the returning
officers are trapped there because the
soldiers wouldn’t let them cross their
barricade. From Apana the Ward
Headquarters to this place, my voting centre
takes about 10 minutes because of the
good roads we have done.”
The Governor, according to the report,
added, “I have complained to the soldiers
here. I have also called the Brigade
Commander to draw his attention to it. This
one is completely incomprehensible because
I do not know what the briefing of the Army
is but what Professor Jega said is that in the
event of a machine not working, they have
spare to use and they have officers who
would put them to work.
“Now if the Army is blocking INEC officials
from moving, this is a new dimension that
we have not heard of before and I thought
the business of the Army is basically to
check people who are carrying offensive
weapons, I do not know if card reader is
now an offensive weapon. I have
complained to the Brigade Commander,
Major General Olaleye and you have also
heard me mentioning it to the Electoral
Officer (E.O).
“My appeal; our people have a proverb that
when you know that enemies are
surrounding you, you do not go and rub
yourself with an inflammable chemical such
that when they just push you a little bit and
you sit near fire, you get roasted. There is no
doubt there are enemies of democracy,
there is no doubt there are people who do
no want free and fair elections and
therefore I am not going to lend support by
way of any comment that will readily suit the
expectation of those who are anti-
democratic.
“I have spoken to the INEC REC in Benin and
I believe that Professor Jega the Chairman
should be aware of what is going on in Edo
where card readers are not working in
many places. We have gotten reports from
Benin and across the state and it appears
the problem is rather widespread but it is
my hope that INEC has sensible alternatives
to invoke when we are in this kind of critical
condition.
“I want to appeal to Nigerians, we have
suffered enough. One more day of suffering
will not kill us so let us exercise all the
patience that we can, let’s refuse to be
frustrated, let us not resort to a shouting
match. By the Grace of God, God will not
leave us hopeless.
“As leaders we must provide leadership role,
more so at this hour. I have faith in
democracy, it is not a choice, it is the only
option. All of us have to be ready to sacrifice
the day. I am very impressed seeing
ordinary people queue up patiently to vote.
These are farmers who if they don’t work,
they don’t earn. They are not like urban
people who put pen to paper and steal
money and earn even without working. If
they sleep, their production will sleep. So
they donate their production today for
Nigeria’s democracy and this is what they
get, but I am happy that they are not
fighting.
“It is already getting to a critical point, it is
few minutes to 11:00am and some
materials have not been able to reach here
because the Army blocked up the roads for
INEC, and where INEC has reached, the
machines are not working. I want to hope
that this will be solved and so let us wait.”

Don't worry, baba will still win

K

Rigging soldiers

Janet101:
Don't worry, baba will still win

IN YOUR DREAMS NIGHTMARES.

marcoNG:

IN YOUR DREAMS NIGHTMARES.

My little advice, don't gamble wit ur school certificate... U knw d result already