FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was pleased with the commitment of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetoku, and chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to ensure a free, fair and credible election in the state.
Obaseki said this while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting of the party caucus at the Government House in Benin City.
Expressing confidence that the party would come out victorious in Saturday’s gubernatorial election, the Governor said, the PDP is ready for the poll, charging leaders and members to continue mobilising support for the party across the state.
“As a caucus, we are pleased with the current utterances from the security agencies in Nigeria. We want to particularly appreciate the statement issued by the Inspector General of Police, making a commitment to support the peace process, ensuring that there is a level playing field for all the players and we endorse his efforts to draft a lot more men to Edo to support the elections on Saturday.
“We are also pleased with INEC so far and have every reason to trust the authorities of INEC and what they are committed to doing. So, our leaders are going to various local governments to continue mobilising for citizens to come out and support our candidate who clearly stands shoulder high above other candidates in the governorship race.
“We want to say that we are ready for this election. From this meeting of the caucus of the party, we have made sure that we have covered all grounds and the leaders of our party have all assured me that they are heading back home now to cross the T’s and dots the I’s on Saturday.
“We are hoping that when the courts resume, all our people who have been detained in Abuja will be released. If they are granted bail, allowed to come back home to their families and participate in the democratic process, we would consider signing the peace accord”, he said.
On INEC’s plans to postpone the Edo election, the governor noted that the commission’s chairman had promised that the election would be held as scheduled.
