From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State, Chief Patrick Eholor, has said that the people of the state will not repeat the mistake of voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election. He predicted a landslide victory for the LP on 21 September, boasting that the party would win if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were to conduct the election today.
Eholor said that the Edo people are not ready to vote for a continuation of the hardship they face under the APC-led federal government. He added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is engrossed in crisis and therefore has no hope of winning the election.
The human rights activist appealed to President Bola Tinubu not to interfere in the Edo election, urging him to focus on alleviating the suffering Nigerians are facing. Eholor also advised INEC not to yield to pressure from the federal government to manipulate the electoral process, warning that doing so would damage Nigeria’s democracy.
He urged INEC to use the Edo election as a model for future elections by ensuring a credible and fair process. Eholor also cautioned security agents against intimidating voters, reminding them of their duty to maintain law and order.
Regarding the crisis within the Labour Party, Eholor acknowledged its existence but downplayed its potential impact on the party’s chances in the Edo election. He affirmed his commitment to the party and expressed confidence in an amicable resolution to the internal disputes.