…As ANPP Candidate Describes Poll Peaceful
As the Edo State governorship election proceed, accusations of vote buying have surfaced against one of the major contenders in the election
Prince Asamah Kadiri, SAN, the Edo LP deputy governorship candidate pointedly accused the opposition APC of vote-buying
He accused the opposition APC of engaging in desperate measures, including vote-buying
Prince Kadiri said he saw the incidents of vote-buying first-hand by himself, He said the vote-buying activities of the adding it was being perpetuated by the APC in Auchi and other parts of the Edo North district
He disclosed casting his vote in his Ward 1, Unit 6, Auchi
He noted that “It is sad that the APC is engaging in vote buying in my unit and the reports available to me across Auch and the Edo North district shows that the APC is buying votes for N10,000 nairas”
The LP deputy governor noted that some courageous voters were able to rebuff the APC and insisted on voting for the party of their choice
On the performance of the INEC in the conduct of the poll, Prince Kadiri said it is still too early in the day to rate the electoral body and urged it to ensure that it found a way to monitor its officials who are in the field to prevent electoral fraud
More so, the Managing Director of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, BORDA, Engr Saliu Ahmed scored INEC and the security agents posted on election duty high for maintaining peace and orderliness people for the peaceful atmosphere surrounding the election
Engr Ahmed voted in the same polling unit with the LP deputy governorship candidate
He also had praises for the military posted on election duty and thanked them profoundly for the high display of professionalism they have put up so far.
For Barr. Olumide Akpata of the candidate of the Labour party LP, has thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC on the peaceful election process so far at the ongoing Edo State 2024 gubernatorial election taking place in Edo State.
Barr. Olumide was speaking immediately after casting his vote the ministry of education Iyare ward 6 Oredo local government Area of Edo State.
According to him, he is calling on INEC to maintain the pace which they have started.
In Ikpoba-Okha ward 5, polling units 46, in tipper garage open space the Director General, to PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, Hon.Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, described the election as peaceful Elections
Hon Iduoriyekemwnen who voted in polling unit 46, open space tipper garage, ward five, Ikpoba Okha LGA expresses electorates also.
Also, the agents seen on ground were Matthew Oluwaseun of the Labour Party, L.P and Osasere Oshodin of the People Democratic Party, PDP while other party agents remain missing.
Dr Azemhe Azena, the Governorship candidate of the NNPP in the ongoing September 21st election in Edo state, casted his vote in his polling Unit 3, Ward 10, Okpekpe in Etsako-East LG.
The Candidate who was at the polling Unit at exactly 10am did his accreditation and voting at 10:20am amidst peaceful conduct of both voters and electoral officials.
The voting exercise which commenced about an hour before then, witnessed a great turn out of voters and the presence of security officials to maintain law and order.
Speaking to news men afterwards, Dr Azemhe Azena was grateful for the peaceful atmosphere and hope it will continue throughout the exercise.
He however, added that from what he saw at his polling Unit and reports reaching him from across the senatorial zones, vote buying was the order of the day.
” In my own unit, the sum of Fourteen thousand Naira and Ten thousand Naira were being offered to voters by the ruling party at the center and that at the state respectively. This does not speak well for democracy” he added.
Dr Azemhe Azena thanked profusely, those who voted their conscience by refusing the financial inducement. He added that he will not relent in the fight for the enthronement of Democracy in Nigeria by doing the right thing always.
