Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, has alleged that police operatives are intimidating voters in the ongoing election in the state.
Ighodalo, who spoke on Saturday at ward 1, PU 3, in Ewohimi, Esan south-east LGA, where he cast his ballot, alleged that one of the PDP’s supporters was arrested by police while attempting to vote.
The PDP candidate said the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived late at his polling unit, adding that there is a need to extend the voting period.
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“One of our supporters was arrested by men in mufti carrying guns. Nobody should carry a gun to a polling unit; that’s against the law and regulation. But you just see people misbehaving, oppressing, and trying to intimidate our voters. We won’t be intimidated and oppressed.
“How come it is only PDP supporters that are being arrested? Every day, you see APC supporters doing the worst things imaginable; nobody arrests them, nobody even investigates them.
“The authorities should create a free and fair level playing field. It is getting too much, particularly from the police force or people that claim to be policemen. If policemen want to be politicians, they should retire.
“INEC has delayed for over two hours; the only fair thing will be for closure to be extended by maybe for 2 or 3 hours. So that everybody can get to vote,” Ighodalo said.
Seventeen political parties are battling for the votes of 2.2 million electorate in the Edo governorship election.
