By Iduozee Paul, Benin
Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, National Council for Edo 2020 Gubernatorial Election and governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, says the party and its candidate, Godwin Obaseki, will resist plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to unleash mayhem on voters in the state in order to rig the forthcoming poll.
The Rivers State governor who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, said the governor has resolved to quash acts of violence by the APC, its sacked national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and the party’s gubernatorial candidate, OsagieIze-Iyamu.
“We have always preached peace, free and fair election ahead of the gubernatorial election and even Governor Obaseki during the flag-off of our campaigns urged our supporters not to retaliate despite attack on us, intimidation and harassment of our supporters, destruction of our billboards and threat by the APC to use violence to disrupt the forthcoming election in the state.
“In a viral video, the candidate of the APC, Ize-Iyamu, met with thugs and cultists and one Kabaka introduced them to Ize-Iyamu as the ‘Lions and Tigers’ from all the local government areas of Edo State,” Wike disclosed.
According to him, also in the same video, “Ize-Iyamu charged the thugs to move from unit to unit and subsequently move to other wards and local government areas to cause mayhem because they have what it takes to win the election by all means. But under the Electoral Act, you don’t move from one unit to the other so what does that tell you? Violence!
He asked, “I ask for example, if someone comes to cut my hand, so because I don’t want violence I will allow the person to cut my hand? And when the person cuts my hand, I run away and allow the person go scot free?”
Governor Wike however predicted that the September 19 election would be an easy one for the PDP.