By Eben Enasco
Edo State Labour Party Chairman, Comrade Ogbaloi has raised the alarm over what he called an influx of dangerous weapons and their bearers who have been allegedly lodged in some undisclosed hotels waiting to cause mayhem and disrupt the electoral process on Saturday March 18, 2023.
Comrade Ogbaloi, who raised the alarm today, also expressed the concern that the Labour Party has become the target of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC), as they head to the House of Assembly polls.
He spoke at the peace accord meeting between the various stakeholders, including Political Groups and the Security Agents in the state at the Police Officer’s Mess in Benin City, Edo State, which was facilitated by the State Police Commissioner on election duty, Benjamin Okolo.
Apart from signing the peace accord, the meeting was also intended to enable stakeholders to have an interaction that will build confidence amongst the electorates.
Ogbaloi, however, charged the security operatives to rise to the occasion against the anticipated Security Challenges.
March 18, 2023 is the date set aside by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct the State House of Assembly election across the Country.
It is also billed for the conduct of gubernatorial elections in many states of the Federation, with Edo state being one of the few states that will not be participating in this year’s gubernatorial elections as it has to wait until 2024 due to its unique gubernatorial electoral circle.
While the meeting Convener, Edo State Police Commissioner on election duty, Benjamin Okolo was assuring the stakeholders of hitch-free conduct, ahead of the Saturday, March 18, election, the major political players who attended the event said they will no longer be cowed by mere assurances.
Labor Party Chairman, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi who was visibly unhappy with the conduct of the February 25, Presidential Election in the Country rated the Security Operatives low.
Earlier, the Chairman, of Edo State Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), Joseph Omorogbe condemned the seemingly Security lapses and urged them to build trust.
On their part, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, and the Representative of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in the State, Comrade Curtis Ogbebor hinted how thugs were allowed to cart away ballot boxes before the eyes of some security operatives who were mounted to prevent such incidents.
They argued that the House of Assembly Election in the state must be used as a measure to correct the ills of the February 25, Presidential election.
Senior officers cut across Security Agencies, and relevant stakeholders graced the occasion as political parties signed the peace accord.
