By Ehichioya Steve Odion
The Edo State chapter of Labour Party (LP) has alleged that violence, electoral irregularities and late arrival of electoral materials marred the Edo State local government election held Saturday, 2 September and dissociated the party from any outcome of the election, adding that the party has withdrawn from the process.
Chairman of Labour Party in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Mr. Jeffery Scott Emuakpor stated this while speaking on behalf of Labour Party protesters during their protest to the press centre of the Edo Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He alleged that voting materials did not get to polling units in time while Labour Party members were shot at, intimidated and harassed by the local vigilant group which is under the control of the state government, at the various voting centres.
"We have 7 Political parties accredited by the Electoral body for this election, but it is only one party, PDP that was allowed access into the polling units, as the state owned security outfit were mobilized to harass, intimidate voters. I escaped being leached by PDP thugs at my polling unit and my members were barred from going into the polling units", he said.
Reacting to the allegations, chairman of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), Hon. Justice James Oyomire (Rtd), said the commission has not received any report of violence from any of the participating political parties in the election, pointing out that there were reports of delay in commencement of voting in a unit at ward 4 in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, as according to him the Presiding Officer trained and mobilised by the commission refused to turn up for the exercise.
He said he directed the Electoral Officer, (EO) of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area to replace him with the Supervisory Presiding Officer (PSO) of the ward, and that voting commenced thereafter.
The EDSIEC chairman also noted that there were cases of late arrival of electoral materials in some wards in Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo Local Government Areas because electoral materials were distributed to them late as the commission had to attend to Local Government Areas in Edo North and Central first, adding that their materials were distributed late Friday.
Addressing the protesters, the Edo State chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Festus Alenkhe urged them to go about their protest peacefully, adding that journalists will be professional in reporting their grievances.
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