The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a tough position ahead of the Edo State governorship election on Saturday by telling the people to come out enmasse to vote and treat any person who attempts to disrupt, manipulate or rig the poll as a criminal.
In a statement signed on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP also charged the people of the state to defend themselves by confronting and resisting any attempt by fake security personnel who are reportedly being deployed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to “abduct innocent citizens, snatch ballot boxes and disrupt the election.”
PDP said its directive is predicated on alleged “plans by the APC to garb its thugs allegedly imported from Imo and Kogi States with fake police and military uniforms to infiltrate the security agencies and unleash violence on innocent citizens before and on election day.
Against this backdrop the PDP called on the Inspector General of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide designated identification badges to police and other security personnel assigned to specific Polling Units so as to prevent infiltration by APC fake security operatives.
The PDP restated that it stands for peace adding however that “our Party and the people of Edo State will use every legitimate means available in a democratic resistance to protect our democracy and ensure that nobody subverts the will of the people at the poll.
“Our Party also restates that any APC thug that attempts to cause a crisis or snatch ballot boxes in this election will surely face the wrath of the people and the law.
The PDP demanded that INEC ensures the credibility of the election by insulating itself from the manipulations and antics of the APC which are capable of pitching the people against the Commission.
It said INEC should also ensure that sensitive electoral materials including voters register, ballot papers and result sheets for specific and particular Polling Units are delivered timely to their appropriate locations so as to prevent the possibility of a deliberate switching of such electoral materials to wrong locations.
It directed its Polling Agents to be extra vigilant and inspect the INEC BVAS to ensure that they are not preloaded before accreditation and voting.
“They should ensure that all results are immediately and directly transmitted to INEC Portal and send copies of such results to the PDP Election Situation Room for documentation.”
The party said it “is poised for victory. Our Party and the people of Edo State have worked hard for this election and will stop at nothing to ensure that nobody undermines the Will of the people at the poll,” the party said.