GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has described next weekend’s governorship election in the state as a “do-or-die” affair, this is even as the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ilia Damagun, vowed that party members would defend their votes “with blood.”
The declaration came just two days after the PDP refused to sign the Peace Accord over alleged unfair treatment on the part of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as Police operatives.
Speaking to a large crowd in Oredo Local Government Area during the PDP’s final rally, the governor said, “This election is a do-or-die situation for us. Do you want insecurity? Do you want uneducated people leading us? Next Saturday, when you go to vote, make sure you choose PDP. Our next governor is going to be Asue Ighodalo.”
No fewer than twelve (12) PDP governors and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, attended the event.
Both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been accusing each other of inciting violence and engaging in vote-buying ahead of the election.
Recall that on Thursday, after several parties signed the peace agreement, former governor of Edo State and now APC senator, Adams Oshiomhole boldly stated that the PDP has no chance of winning the election.
He claimed no miracle can save the PDP from defeat in the upcoming election.
However, obviously responding to that submission Damagun said the APC could only win Edo State through violence and intimidation, but that the PDP would resist such attempts.
Damagun declared that the opposition would need to kill or arrest all PDP members to win the election.
The PDP chairman also warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against announcing election results at night, threatening that the party members would defend their votes with their blood.
He emphasized that the election would serve as a test for Nigeria’s democracy, urging people to pay close attention to the state.
Damagun stated, “You have to kill or arrest all of us if you want to take this state. You may have gangs, but we have God.
“To INEC, we don’t want midnight result announcements. It is not a threat, but we will defend our votes with our blood.
“We urge Nigerians to focus on the state, and we promise that the PDP will continue to provide good governance in Edo State.”
Damagun later presented what he referred to as “the flag of victory” to Ighodalo, the PDP’s governorship candidate.
Addressing the crowd, Ighodalo promised to take Edo to the next level, stating that Obaseki had already laid a solid foundation for the state.
He also pledged to run a transparent government with integrity, expressing confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s assurance that the election would be free and fair.
“My desire is to take the state to the next level as Governor Obaseki has already built a solid foundation for its development. My government will be transparent. I will also govern with integrity.
“I believe that the election will be free and fair, as promised by Governor Obaseki and President Tinubu. I urge the people to come out in large numbers to vote for the PDP next Saturday.”
In his speech, the Chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, not to announce the election result until he was certain of its accuracy.
Wabara urged Yakubu to correct the mistakes of the 2023 general elections and retire peacefully.
PDP governors at the grand finale of the campaign included Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Pastor Eno Umo (Akwa Ibom), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Peter Mbah (Enugu), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).
Next weekend’s election appears to be a three-horse race involving candidates of the PDP, the APC and the Labour Party (LP).
Eighteen-Eleven Media