APC, PDP Bicker Over Alleged Printing Of PVCs, Violence

TRACKING ____Barely one month to the governorship election in Edo State, the two leading political parties, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday engaged in a verbal war of over alleged printing of illicit Permanent Voter Cards, (PVCs) and resort to violence ahead of the poll.

The ruling PDP fired the first salvo when it alleged that there had been massive printing of PVCs in homes and offices of some APC leaders in the state.

Although the ruling party in the state declined to mention the location and names of the APC leaders involved, PDP disclosed that it has alerted security operatives about the matter.

The PDP also accused the opposition APC of stoking violence in the state with the sole aim of having the elections postponed having realised it is not ready for the September 19 governorship election.

Addressing a press conference at the PDP campaign secretariat in Benin City, Edo State, the party’s state publicity secretary, Chris Nehikhare said, “We need to alert the general public that we are aware of the criminal printing of PVC’s by APC in some of it offices here in Edo state.

“I am saying this not because we are worried that they can use it for elections but because of the criminal aspect of it and the security agencies have been alerted but unfortunately, they are not doing anything about it.

“We told them the address where this is taking place and the people doing it but nobody has been arrested and that is why we are raising this alarm. They have discovered that they cannot win a free and fair election and they are trying all manners of ways to subvert the will of Edo people. Their intention is to have the election postponed because they know they will be defeated”.

The party spokesman however expressed confidence that the PDP will defeat the APC and its candidate.

But countering PDP’s allegations, the APC described the allegation as a mark of ignorance on the part of the PDP, noting that the ruling party was trying to distract Edo people in order to rig the September 19 governorship election.

The state publicity secretary of APC, Chris Azebamwan, said, “It is a mark of ignorance for PDP’s Chris Nehikhare to accuse leaders of APC of criminally printing PVCs. Any politician who does that will be wasting his/her time and money, because INEC’s card readers will reject the fake PVCs.

“PDP leaders are trying to distract and deceive Edo people and other

Nigerians about their plot to rig the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, but it will be an exercise in futility. Edo residents and other Nigerians should ignore the antics, propaganda, misinformation and disinformation of Chris Nehikhare and other members of PDP.

“PDP leaders want the election to be postponed, because the party is not on the ground in Edo State. They know that APC’s governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is very popular with huge followership across the 18 LGAs of the state and he will win the September 19, 2020 election with a wide margin, with Godwin Obaseki to experience humiliating defeat.

“So, PDP leaders are preparing the ground for their eventual defeat, in order to be able to accuse APC leaders of rigging the election. No truth or merit in the senseless allegation. Do not forget that PDP’s thugs were responsible for the July 25 gunshots at the palace of Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, and last Thursday’s shootings at Apana in Etsako West LGA of Edo State, but they attempted to blame APC members, in order to cause confusion”.

IGP Orders Arrest Of Persons Carrying Illegal Arms

Meanwhile, ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo States, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu has ordered total clampdown on prohibited firearms across the country.

Force public relations officer (PRO), Frank Mba, who disclosed this yesterday, said the commissioners of Police in all states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been ordered to identify, isolate, disarm, arrest and prosecute offenders.

He said, “As part of preparations toward the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states, as well as efforts by the Police High Command to curb the proliferation of prohibited firearms in the country, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has ordered Commissioners of Police in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to immediately initiate appropriate actions to identify, isolate, disarm, arrest and prosecute any individual(s) or group(s) in possession of prohibited firearms.

“The directive has become necessary against the backdrop of the deliberate arming and movement of political thugs and other criminal elements across the country.

“In addition, the directive is targeted at addressing the proliferation and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms in the country which is contrary to the provisions of Chapter F.28 LFN 2004 of the Firearms Act”.

Mba added that commissioners of Police in all the states of the Federation and the FCT have been directed to immediately convene an enlightenment meeting of all vigilante groups and quasi-security outfits spread across the country in order to ensure that their activities are in conformity with the extant laws guiding their establishment and operations.

He stressed that the IGP, while observing that several civil groups, including vigilantes, quasi states and regional security outfits under various guises are arming themselves with prohibited firearms and weapons in contravention of the provisions of the Firearms Act, noted that the trend if unchecked, poses serious threat to national security.

The Police spokesman added that the IGP further enjoined citizens to cooperate with the Police in the enforcement of the order, noting that it is aimed at ensuring safety of lives and property in the country.