Accusations have continued to trail the rescheduled governorship polls, despite the security threat given as the cause.
Dan Orbih, the state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has alleged that the postponement of the Edo State governorship election which was previously scheduled to hold on September 10, is to allow the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, to finalize arrangements to manipulate card readers.
Orbih, who spoke to journalist at the press briefing in Benin City, said it was also to enable the APC bring its members from neighboring states to participate in the election which has been rescheduled to hold on September 28.
The chairman added that the PDP had credible information that the ruling party paid huge sums of money to militants in Delta State to attack PDP members before and during the election. He also disclosed that the militants are lodged in different hotels in Benin City.
Orbih urged the security agencies to apprehend them before they cause mayhem. “The shift was also to give the APC the ample opportunity to manipulate the card readers, especially in areas where the party is weak, he told journalists.”
Last week, Oshiomhole accused some south-south governors of bringing over 8, 000 armed militants to disrupt the governorship polls.
According to him, when the card readers malfunction, they would then resort to the use of a manual register and the attendant incident forms.
The chairman explained: “Part of the plot is to arrest some PDP leaders and members to prevent them from mobilizing their supporters for the polls.
“Instead of canvassing support for their candidates, they are resorting to the intimidation of our members, including inducing them with Prado Jeeps.”
