Dangote workers kidnapped, dozens injured in Edo

By Kadiri Christopher 

Prof Mahmud Yakubu,
INEC Chairman 

The Coalition of Riverine Communities in Edo State has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have perfected plans to disenfranchise eligible voters within the Ofunama and Inikorogha wards in the forth coming Continuous Voters Registration, CVR.

In a protest statement signed by Comrades Ipiteikumoh Godfrey Owei the National President, Ezekiel Daniel the Spokesperson, Mr Samuel Oroupa the Secretary and Hon Ayedi Ikiyokepere the Publicity Secretary and made available to LEGENDS TV, the coalition said that they are acting up on credible information that plans have been perfected between the Election Management Body, EMB, and the opposition party in Edo State.

"We cannot close our mouths while some compromised INEC staff in collaboration with opposition leaders in Ovia Federal Constituency try to shortchange our people in the riverine part of Edo, precisely Ofunama and Inikorogha wards in Ovia South-West Local Government Area.

"Reliable information reaching us says that all plans have been perfected by these elements to deny the two wards registration machines in order to deny them the opportunity to participate in the registration exercise that is going to kick off in a few days time", they alleged.

They attribute that the wards are Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, strongholds. According to them, "It is a known fact that these two wards are not just strong hold of PDP, but has always been a deciding factor who becomes the Governor of the state because of its voting strength.

"For these unscrupulous characters to have their way in rigging genuine voters out, hence their reason for this plot, which 20 million naira has been set aside by the criminal opposition leader, who is on a wanted list of security agencies in Canada for his involvement in internet fraud.  

"Having discovered the skim at this early stage, we are calling on Governor Godwin Obaseki to please step in and nip in the bud this potential threat to the peace of the riverine area because this desperation is what we call taken too far.

 

"We call on the INEC state commissioner to call his staff to order, not to allow themselves to be used by wicked politicians to shortchange our people, because we shall resist this oppression with the last drop in our vein," they said.

Reacting to the allegations, when contacted, the Head of Publicity and Voters Education, Mr Timidi Wariowei said, "the Continuous Voters Registration hasn't begun and we are starting from the 27th day of May and will end on the 5th day of June. It is a 10 exercise.

"They should wait till the exercise starts and when it starts, the machines and staff will be mobilized to every ward that is designated, including the said wards that are already complaining.

"They should alert us if our staff did not get to their wards", he said.