Anticipated violence: Edo poll proves pundits wrong
Against nationwide apprehension that Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State would be marred by large scale violence, the election held peacefully in most parts of the state, save for disruptions recorded in few Local Government Areas.
Our correspondents who monitored the poll in different parts of the state observed that voting was conducted in a peaceful manner as security agents kept guard at the different polling units.
The fear of violence during and after the election had prompted the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, to summon the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the Peoples Democratic Party, Godwin Obaseki to his palace, over their hot verbal exchanges, clashes among their supporters and pockets of violence that had characterised their campaigns.
Fourteen political parties participated in the exercise, but the contest was believed to have largely been between the incumbent governor, Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu.
Meanwhile, following the fear of violence, the National Peace Committee, headed by a former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, intervened in a state election as against its usual practice of intervening in presidential elections.
Also, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, had expressed concerns over the possible fear of violence during the election, which prompted the commission to invite the candidates and the political parties to sign a peace deal on Tuesday.
Yakubu had said two weeks ago that the National Peace Committee, INEC and every conscientious Nigerian were concerned about the fear of violence in elections. Similarly, the two major political parties had on several occasions accused each other of importing thugs and purchasing arms to be used to disrupt the election.
Thus, INEC, which threatened that it would not hesitate to stop the election mid-way if there was violence, earlier told Sunday PUNCH that it insured all its ad hoc staff and full staff against death and other election hazards. The police, in its response, deploying 31,000 policemen to the state for the exercise.
But, in contrast to the fears, the election was largely peaceful.
One of our correspondents who visited several polling units in Etsako West Local Government Area noticed the heavy security agents at the polling units as they were seen maintaining law and order during the voting exercise.
At Unit 001, Ward 10, Iyamho, where former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, voted, 19 security agents were sighted. At Units 009, 010, and 011, Ward 9, Elele, there were more than 20 security agents in total. A significant number of security agents was also observed at Unit 002, Ward 10, Ogbido and Unit 003, Ward 10, Uluoke/Ayaoghena.
Also, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the election, Mr Leye Oyebade, told one of our correspondents on the telephone after the voting had ended that the poll was generally peaceful. He said this did not mean there were no incidents during the exercise.
The DIG said, “We have helicopters that flew across the state to monitor activities. You said there was shooting but we had people who came out to say this is the best election they have witnessed. If there were one or two things that happened, we are collating and we will address everything together later.”
Our correspondents who monitored the election at Iguododo community in Orhionwon Local Government Area and some of the adjoining communities as well as Ikpoba-Okah Local Government Area observed that there was no violence in those areas.
At Unit 26 Ward 5 in Iguododo community where Ize-Iyamu voted, three unarmed policemen and two officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were present. Ize-Iyamu was accompanied to the polling unit by some persons. However, a team of policemen later came when the APC candidate had cast his vote and left the premises of Iguododo Primary School.
Even though there were roadblocks on the Benin-Abraka Road in line with the restriction on movement, some passenger vehicles coming into Benin from Abraka were seen loaded with passengers at around 2pm before the election was concluded.
In Edo North, an election observer with Centre for Democracy and Development, Mr John Atsegameh, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the election was peaceful and devoid of violence.
“From the reports I’m getting from other places, the election is free and devoid of violence. The electorate conducted themselves properly and there was a strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols. So far, no form of violence, party agents conducted themselves and cooperated with INEC personnel.”
Meanwhile, our correspondents reported that there were pockets of violence in some polling units in Oredo, Orhionmwon, Igueben, Egor, including ballot box snatching, shooting, interference and disruption of the exercise.
Also, in Ogbe Primarily School in Benin, suspected thugs entered a voting centre and ordered all voters out at gunpoint. The wife of an APC local government chairman was also beaten up by suspected political thugs. These two were among the few skirmishes that marred the Edo poll.
Some stakeholders said they believed the exercise was the most peaceful in the political history of the South-South state.
Some observers also noted that the voter turnout was large.
Oba of Benin’s intervention did the magic – Community leader
Meanwhile, a voter, Chief Etiosa Omoemu, thanked the Oba of Benin for cautioning the governorship candidates of the two major parties, adding that the intervention from the monarch contributed to the peaceful conduct of the election.
Omoemu said, “It (election) is peaceful and the weather has been clement. There was massive turnout, which is encouraging. I think the awareness among the citizens about this election was quite high, hence, the massive turnout.
“I thank the Oba of Benin for his intervention. That bold effort to come out and call both parties to order was useful. To a large extent, that helped to calm down the violence that was escalating. Since then, there has been observable calm everywhere.” Punch
