Gov Obaseki says LG election is evidence PDP is non-existent in Edo

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is no longer in existence in the state.

He was reacting to the number of voters that turned out for the Saturday local council areas and wards election in the state, which saw the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) win elections in all 18 council areas and 192 wards of the state.

The governor was surprised that despite the fact that the PDP boycotted the election, voters turned out in large numbers early in many voting centres even as electoral materials arrived late in some of the centres.

The governor who spoke shortly after casting his vote said, “In most units and wards the number of people that have decamped from PDP to APC has been amazing and I think it is logical because every politician aspires from his unit and if you do not give him the opportunity he will seek it from outside. So that was what happened. We can confidently say that the opposition party is non-existent in Edo State.

“It has been peaceful and orderly. This is a precursor to 2019, Edo State as you see it is on lock down for APC. So maybe the contest will be outside Edo State but Edo State is an APC state.

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“The only incident we heard is in Egor and the situation has been taken care of. I don´t see any low turnout, what has happened is that the councillors themselves, the candidates, have gone out to mobilise people. I had challenged them that the votes they obtained in their election must be bigger than mine when I ran for election. I have been monitoring the distribution of materials since morning; reports reaching me say that things have gone on smoothly”, the governor stated.

Recall that the Edo State chapter of the PDP said it will not be part of the local government elections which it described as a “sham election”.
The party stated in a release signed by Chris Osa Nehikhare, its state publicity secretary, that the results of the polls scheduled for Saturday, March 3 had been compiled and merely awaiting announcement.

The party also called on its members and people of the state to boycott the election and observe the day as a rest free day by staying home, or going to their farms.

 

 

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