₦airaland Forum

DEROXMAN:
I CRY EVERYNIGHT KNOWING I CONVICED PPLE TO VOTE THESE FOOLS

yarimo:
Everywhere in Edo state people are just congratulating opkebholo as governor elect

Sharpsharp00123:
the same way u Igbos pushed them into dungeon ( hands of obaseki)

Let's wait till tomorrow

Okpebholo1:
Yaradua nko

As the Edo State governorship election draws near, a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said voting for All Progressives Congress in the state would be an endorsement of misery and hardship.

He urged the voters to ask themselves if the APC has made life better, or only deepened their struggles before casting the ballot.

He also said the APC has plunged Nigeria into an abyss of suffering and has sown seeds of poverty, despair, and insecurity.

[/b]Atiku made this known in a statement on his Facebook on Wednesday titled ‘The clear choice for a prosperous Edo State’.


[b]”They criticized past leaders for raising fuel prices, yet today, they preside over an era where fuel costs soar above N900 per litre. Their cruelty and disregard for the plight of the masses are unmatched. A vote for the APC is a vote for the continuation of misery, hunger, and despair,” Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate during the 2023 general elections, said.

“Do not be swayed by the empty promises of the APC. Electing Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the PDP is not just a vote; it is an act of reclaiming our future. It is a choice to consolidate the good work of Governor Godwin Obaseki and to build a future of prosperity, dignity, and hope,” he added.

According to him, the power to break free from the chains of bad governance, and the power to chart a new course for Edo lies in the residents’ which must be used as a tool for change.

Atiku said, ”The APC has donned the mask of a friend to the masses, but behind this veil lies a sinister reality. They have lured gullible voters with sweet promises, only to reveal their true nature— a party driven by a hunger for power rather than the well-being of the people.

”They have forsaken the ideals of governance, ignoring the cries of the common man while pursuing their selfish ambitions. Under their watch, Nigeria has been plunged into an abyss of suffering. They have sown seeds of poverty, despair, and insecurity.

”The once vibrant spirit of our nation has been dimmed by a relentless struggle for survival, where even the simplest of needs, like food, have become out of reach for millions. In this grim reality, our people are not dying of disease but of hunger. We stand at the lowest point in our nation’s governance.

”The APC has not served the people; they have served themselves. And when the people, rightfully aggrieved, have raised their voices in protest, they have been silenced, dragged to courts under charges of treason. Meanwhile, the APC’s leaders bask in luxury, indifferent to the hardship that grips the nation.”

The former vice president said despite the gloomy situation, the PDP candidate was ready to serve with competence and a genuine commitment to the people’s welfare.

”People of Edo State, the time has come to use the power vested in you. As you go to the polls, ask yourself: Has the APC made your life better, or has it only deepened your struggles?

”The answer is clear. Your vote for Ighodalo will not only bring change to Edo State but will also send a resounding message across Nigeria that we reject the deceit and self-serving ways of the APC.

”Let us march to the polls this Saturday, united in our resolve to bring about the change we so desperately need. Let us cast our votes for Asue Ighodalo and usher in a new dawn for Edo State. The power is yours. Use it wisely,” Atiku said.

etrouble:
Yes, all is FAIR in Love, War, and in Politics

NewHe:
So you believe this rubbish?

yarimo:
PDP and labour party are not ready for any election, always looking for who to blame.

OkpaNsukkaisBae:
DSS will soon arrest him and charge him to court for committing treason

NIGERIA’S fragile democracy undergoes another massive scrutiny as the governorship election occurs throughout Edo State on September 21 (tomorrow). Amidst the tensions, resentment, and open acrimony, the will of the people must prevail. Any other outcome is a disservice to democracy. Therefore, the umpire, the security agencies, and the Federal Government must ensure free, fair, and credible polls that will be acceptable to all parties.

It is a high-stakes, winner-takes-all contest for the soul and resources of Edo State.

After the off-cycle governorship polls in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states in late 2023, this is another real test of democracy under the Bola Tinubu administration since its ascension to power in May 2023. Thus, it is a window to the management and organisation of elections for the rest of the President’s tenure.

In Nigeria, elections are still a war, despite 25 years of democracy. The Edo polls buttress this notion of violence, brigandage, and chaos. Tensions are at a fever pitch as the electorate goes to the polls to choose the next governor tomorrow in all the 18 LGAs of the state.

As usual, the security agencies boast that they are up to the task. This will be confirmed on Saturday. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has deployed 35,000 officers to protect the sanctity of the polls. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed 6,433 officers for the same purpose. The military is not left out.

The Police Service Commission, which is monitoring police conduct, said, “Police officers on electoral duties are expected to be neutral and ensure that both the voters and the voting materials are protected and secured.

“The officers are also expected to ensure that voting is peaceful and orderly and that voters are given unfettered access to discharge their civic responsibility.”

The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, assured the public that the military would be impartial.

This time, Egbetokun and the military should make their promise count. “We want to have the best election in Edo State, and we are ready,” Musa promised. “You have been briefed on what parts you are supposed to play, we are working as a team and we are all Nigerians here, nobody is more Nigerian than the other person.

“With other security forces, we are going to work together as a team: the police, the civil defence, the DSS and all the others. We know the election has a lot of issues, there are a lot of expectations, and we want this election to go without any rancour. We don’t want any disturbance; nobody should come and intimidate anybody.”

All this sounds good to the ear, but previous deployments of security agents have not counted significantly considering the shambolic polls that usually end up in the courts.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, of the 2.62 million registered voters, 2.24 million or 85.57 per cent have collected their permanent voter cards. This leaves 379,245 (14.43 per cent) PVCs uncollected. This is an impressive outcome. In contrast, 2.21 million registered to vote; only 1.72 million collected their PVCs. In Nigeria, voting is done solely through the PVC.

Unfortunately, this might not translate to a healthy voter turnout tomorrow. In the last governorship poll in 2020, voter turnout was 25 per cent. It was lower compared to the 32 per cent turnout in 2016. Pundits blamed the low turnout in part on the COVID-19 pandemic, as Nigeria was just coming out of the lockdown and the virulent sickness that engulfed the polity. With the gripping tensions in the air this time, there is a possibility that the turnout in 2024 might be lower, which is a shame.

For the voting, INEC will deploy 5,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices. It has hired 18,000 ad hoc workers for the ballot.

In all, 17 candidates under the umbrella of their parties are contesting in the polls, hoping to replace the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki, a two-term governor. The main contestants are however Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (the ruling party in the state), Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.

The candidates bring different qualities to the table, making for a keen contest. Other candidates in the election include Derek Izedonmwen (African Democratic Congress), Amos Osalumese (African Peoples Party), Friday Asana (New Nigeria Peoples Party, Aliu Anerua (Social Democratic Party), and Amiemenogha Akhalame (Zenith Labour Party).

Ordinarily, an election is supposed to promote hope about the future. The run-up to the Edo contest has been the exact opposite. The main contestants and their parties have been beating the drums of war. Claims of rigging, attacks, arrests, detention, and killings have stained the campaigns.

Alleging that the Federal Government is using the police to intimidate the ruling PDP led by the outgoing Obaseki, it refused to sign the peace accord facilitated by the National Peace Committee.

Indeed, there have been rumours of war and war in the run-up to the polls. In July, gunmen attacked Okpebholo at the Benin Airport as he returned to the state with Philip Shaibu, Obaseki’s estranged deputy. A police officer died in the attack, leaving others with injuries.

In return, the PDP laments that the police have exploited this to intimidate and arrest their members. The police argue that they have been arresting only suspects linked to this incident.

The ruling party alleges that it fears the polls will be stained by the Edo Resident Electoral Commissioner, who is reportedly related to a former governor and a serving minister. INEC insisted this would not bring bias of any kind to the exercise.

In a democracy, there is no other route to leadership than elections. Elections and voter turnout measure its health. So, despite the threats and inconveniences, the Edo electorate should troop out on Saturday to exercise their franchise: it is a civic duty embedded in the social contract theory.

[b]The voters should not sell their votes for trifling inducements, no matter the hardship in the land. Voting for the right candidate is better than receiving paltry financial and material gratification and guarantees a better future for the citizens of the state.[/b]x

Edo is just one out of 36 states. So, INEC has no excuse not to deliver a transparent ballot there. It should ensure the timely deployment of sensitive voting materials, especially the ballot papers and the BVAS devices. The enhancement and transparency promised using PVCs and BVAS should become vividly evident in this election.

While the locking down of the state and deployment of military troops speak to the violent nature and primitiveness of elections in Nigeria, the military, the police, and the self-styled Department of State Services should justify their deployment by ensuring credible and violence-free polls. There is no point in restricting movement and making noises and criminal elements will still be able to undermine the election.

The security agencies should clamp down on vote-buying and voter suppression marring the recent elections in the country.

Ultimately, the will of the Edo electorate must prevail on Saturday.

“President Tinubu emphasises that democracy thrives on civility, tolerance, patience, and respect for the rules of the game,” the statement reads.

oz4real83:
Three showers a week . Thank God for freedom ooo, we that shower at least twice a day, we don't need such a place

MrBrownJay1:
wait what? you make 90k per months but cant feed your family? what of those who are still receiving 30/50k salary then?

you better tell your wife to get up and go look for a damn job until things get better then.

Okpebholo1:
APC will not win because? Can't you see the handwriting? Please rest abeg

Rebelutionary:
Anytime you come online chestbeating on who won't win I remember Uzodinma...remember that name? That's enough for the hubris! Primate Ayodele is now your sure game? All this kids on Nairaland sef!

membranus:
Has Tinubu been president for the past 12 years? Your obsession with Tinubu has become an obsession. Check yourself.