By Musa Tijani
The group loyal to Governor Godwin Obaseki known as New PDP who came into the PDP proper from APC in 2020 has allegedly threatened to disrupt the primaries for the House of Assembly, House of Representives and Senate coming up 21st, 22nd and 23rd respectively.
The group, said to be loyal to the governor, who are peopled by unscrupulous elements, failed politicians, betrayers…has vowed to use imported thugs and militant groups from other parts of the country with illegal firearms and other dangerous weapons to disrupt the primaries since the governor, their alter ego, failed to use manipulated list as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, its national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC among others to ensure that only those who emerged as delegates in the ad-hoc delegates election monitored by INEC in Edo State partake in the party primaries to choose candidates for the various elective political offices.
The embattled governor, Godwin Obaseki, has been doing everything possible to manipulate the list of delegates to be accepted by the Party for the upcoming primaries. However, the Court has put a political nail to the coffin of the illegalities that he wished to perpetuate. According to our source within their ranks, “some unscrupulous politicians who are major players or contestants in the forthcoming primaries have perfected plans to come and cause mayhem and perpetrate unprecedented violence on our people for the main purpose of rigging and disruption of peaceful election to undermine the wishes of the people.”
During the last ad hoc delegates election, some violence and parrallel congresses were held in parts of Benin to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. In spite of that, the camp loyal to Chief Dan Orbih, the maverick politician also known as Kulukulu 1, cleared all election during the congresses which were all monitored by INEC.
“With the prevailing threat of this insecurity, members of the old PDP must resist these violent elements bent on scuttling efforts of the party to conduct free and fair primaries by undermining the democratic processes in Edo State. The Obaseki group must recognize the constitutional rights of citizens to freely express their legitimate interest in elections without fear of violence and intimidation,” Lawani, a PDP chieftain from Edo North said.
According to Mr Fred Ighalo, “if this news is true, we call on the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector of Police in charge of the state, the Commisioner of Police in Edo State and other relevant security agents to put extra measures in place to thwart the plan to unleash violence on the people during the primaries.”
Speaking on the matter, Chief Ogho said the government and its agents should be concerned with the issues of poverty in the state not tampering with delegates list and causing mayhem in primaries that they ought to peacefully take part in as law abiding citizens. He said for about 2 years now, development have been stalled by the Obaseki led administration as nothing visible apart from virtual MOUs dots the social media space.