Michael Jegede, Abuja
Edo, Nigeria, Sept,08, 2016 – A top aspirant for the office of Deputy National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last botched convention of the party, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, has alleged that the call by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Department of State Services (DSS) for the postponement of Edo State governorship election was being prompted by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Police and DSS on Wednesday made an appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to shift the Edo gubernatorial poll scheduled for Saturday, September 10, 2016, citing security threat.
But Agbo, a former chairman of PDP in Benue State said the request by the security agencies cannot be unconnected to the fear of defeat already staring the ruling APC in Edo State in the face.
The PDP chieftain warned that the security bodies must not allow themselves to be used by APC and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to cause unnecessary obstruction to the smooth conduct of the state guber election.
His words: “The APC undoubtedly is stared with defeat in the Edo guber elections and regrettably are deploying all manners of unjustifiable reasons to have it postponed. The national leadership of APC and Oshiomhole be better told that postponing the evil day does not postpone the evil from happening. The restlessness frenzy and unnatural agitation that characterizes Governor Oshiomhole’s public utterances of recent are indicators of a drowning man.
“He is being hunted by his inglorious maladministration and crass ineptitude that were the only glaring features of his over seven years of failure in Edo government house. The police and the DSS are called upon to place national interest and stability above every other consideration. The Edo election is a litmus test for the sincerity of purpose and neutrality of INEC. Acting otherwise will cast further aspersion on the fast eroding public confidence on the independence of the INEC.”
Agbo, however, expressed assurance that the candidate of his party PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu would emerge victorious in the Edo governorship poll and be sworn in as the next governor of the state, no matter the gimmicks applied by the APC and Oshiomhole to cause needless confusion and delay in the conduct of the election.
