…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
Edo State Labour Party Chairman Kelly Ogbaloi has called for the cancellation of Saturday’s rerun election in the state, alleging that it was marred by irregularities and violence.
He described the election as a sham, adding that thugs suspected to be loyal to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had taken over the activities of the umpire.
Ogbaloi claimed that members of the Labour Party, including one of its candidates, Derek Uhunmwagho, were brutally beaten up and chased away from polling units where the rerun election was taking place.
He further alleged that Labour Party was shortchanged by over 2,000 votes in the last election which INEC had promised to look into and make necessary corrections.
In a separate statement, Labour Party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, alleged that agents of PDP had been deployed by the state government to chase away Labour Party’s candidates and supporters from voting in all affected polling units.
Abure claimed that all the polling units in the local government areas where the rerun elections were held had already been won by Labour Party’s candidates.
However, because INEC officials were compromised, they decided to cancel the results and order a rerun.
Abure revealed that the party was already challenging the earlier results at the election tribunal and was confident of getting a favourable judgement.
He called on Labour Party candidates and supporters to remain calm, believing that justice would be done by the judiciary, which is the last hope of the common man.
The rerun election in Edo State has sparked controversy, with allegations of violence, intimidation and irregularities.
It remains to be seen how INEC will respond to the calls for the cancellation of the election, and what implications this could have for the political future of the state.