Fallout Of Edo Governorship Election: How PDP Rigging Machine Was Frustrated
By Chief Ohimai
The much anticipated Edo State 2024 Governorship election has been concluded with pockets of flash points and talking points, especially the complaints by different political parties that participated in the exercise.
While the election has been adjudged generally peaceful, there were however areas that witnessed violence which led to cancellation of some polling units.
In other cases, election materials were allegedly stolen by David Okoh Aigbodion, a.k.a Arizona, the Chairman in Owan West Local Government Area and taken to a private residence.
In a video sighted, a middle age man (name withheld) was seen holding a ballot box containing ballot papers, ink stamp, BVAS machine and other items that he claimed were hijacked from Ward 3, Unit 9 by Aigbodion and some alleged cultists that accompanied him, and subsequently dumped the bag in his house. The man pleaded profusely to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman of the local government council area to take back the stolen items.
In the fallout of the election, particularly in Owan West Local Government Area, some stakeholders and groups have praised the contributions of Chief Lucky Ohimai for his tenacity and hard work which they claimed subdued the People’s Democratic Party which led to APC victory in Owan West.
First, the leadership of the APC in area led by a former deputy governor of the state, Rev. Peter Obadan, praised Chief Ohimai during a thank you visit to him.
Rev. Obadan, explained that Ohimai’s massive contributions to the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo led to the victory at the poll, which he says has finally sacked the PDP in Owan West.
Rev. Obadan maintained that it was the intervention of Chief Ohimai that gave victory to the APC in the face of harassment and intimidation by Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly.
Rev. Obadan expressed confidence in handing over political leadership to Chief Ohimai, popularly called ‘Tarex’.
According to Rev. Obadan, “If any elder does not want the growth, success of the younger ones and does not want to hand over to the younger generation, then he is a fool. Success without a successor is a failure. If you have no successor, you have failed in life.
“Many people forget their home, but you said you would not. And we thank God for your life.”
Owan West APC Chairman, Frank David also praised Chief Ohimai for providing leadership at the time they needed one.
It is however left to be seen if Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the law enforcement agencies will prosecute those that have been indicted for electoral violence and fraud, especially in Owan West Local Government Area of the state.
