Governorship Election: Police, Military Lay Siege On Edo, Police Want Voters to Go Home After Voting

As the people of Edo State go to the polls to choose their governor, security agencies have laid siege on major towns in the state especially the state capital, Benin City  and Auchi.

FACTSHEET Correspondent in Benin City reports that heavy presence of the police and military has led to the blockade of major streets in the state capital.

Earlier, the head of the police security in charge of the election, DIG Frank Mba had advised voters to go home after casting their votes

The Police team leader told journalists on Friday that the police will allow only accredited individuals on the street and no one else will be allowed to be on the street.

“It is important for everybody to know that if you are not accredited to carry out the functions relating to the election, you shouldn’t be out on the streets.”

“If you are not an accredited personnel, just go out there, perform your civil duty, cast your votes, and return to your home.”

“You understand that this is an off-cycle election, this is one of the challenges we have to deal with,” Mba had told journalists on Friday.

Several parts of Benin City including, Sonkpoba junction, Sapele road, Airport road, Akakpava road by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) among many major roads have been blocked with heavy security presence  and Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

The Edo State governorship election is highly charged with both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) leading the pack in an election that has been described as a “do-or-die” affair by Governor Godwin Oaseki, just as the major political parties rejected the signing of peace agreement prior to the election day.

Mr. Asue Ighodalo flies the PDP flag, Senator Monday Okpebholo is the standard  for the APC, while  Mr. Olumide Akpata is the standard bearer for Labour Party.

There are other 14 candidates contesting the governorship election. Though some of them have announced their withdrawal from the race, some others have also declared support for the three leading candidates. The 14 contestants and their pollical parties are: Action Alliance, AA, – Tom Iseghohi, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – Azena Azemhe Friday, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – Osifo Isiah, All People Movement (APM)– Ugiagbe Sylvester, All Peoples Party (APP) – Areleogbe Osalumese, Action Democratic Party (ADP) – Kingson Akhime Afere, African Action Congress (AAC) – Udoh David, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) – Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena, Boot Party (BP) – Osirame Edeipo,  Accord Party (AC) – Iyere Kennedy, African Democratic Congress – Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)-Patience Key Ndidi, Young Progressive Party (YPP)  – Paul Okungbowa Ovbokhan

And Social Democratic Party (SDP) – Aner Abdullahi Aliu.