Ovia Bye-Election: APC Infiltrates Polling Unit With Thugs, Vigilantes – PDP Candidate, Aikpitani Alleges

By Simeon OSAJIE

Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ovia Federal Constituency bye-election, Rev. Johnny Aikpitanyi has raised the alarm over the interference of his polling unit, Unit 7, in Oghede of Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State by thugs and 150 vigilantes.

He raised the alarm while speaking with journalists today morning in Benin, the state capital.

Rev. Akpitanyi said that it is quite unfortunate that in this present time, electorate are still not allowed to express their civic responsibility by voting for candidate of their choice.

According to him, “How can you see more than 150 vigilantes holding guns in a polling unit? It doesn’t make sense. What is vigilante doing in a police unit? More than 150 of them”.

While accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of invading the polling unit with thugs and vigilantes, the PDP Ovia Federal Constituency candidate said if they felt that they and their candidate are popular and have rendered the dividends of democracy to the people, why crowding the various polling units with thugs and vigilantes?

“If you know your party is good, if you know your party has done well, then why are you afraid? Why the vigilantes? Why the thugs everywhere? Allow people to go vote. If you feel your party, the APC, have done well or maybe you’ve done well for the people, then allow voters to go vote so that their vote will count.

“So, this election violence here and there, it needs to stop and it’s going to stop now,” Akpitanyi said.

He said he has instructed his teeming supporters to play by the rules of the game and should not take the law into their hands adding that he is poised to follow the right channel to address his case.