Edo Holds Council Polls Amidst Mixed Feelings

[TGD]

 Police Restrict Movement

VOTERS and party faithful in Edo State will Saturday vote councillorship and chairmanship candidates to run councils for the next three years  in the state.

The Nigerian Police Force has, however, restricted movement between 6: am and 5: pm Saturday.

" Movement will be restricted from the hours of 6: am to 5:pm. Those that will move will have to be accredited. There is a special tag for them to allow them move unhindered. But we have deployed enough personnel to provide security", state commissioner of police, Folusho Adebanjo said.

The ruling Action Congress of Nigeria  (ACN) expressed confidence in the outcome of the election as it said its candidates would emerge winners for all the 192 councillorship positions and 18 chairmanship positions.

The same confidence was expressed by the Accord Party (AP) as its National Secretary, Samson Isibor, told The Guardian Friday that the party was hopeful it would win in some councils.

But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the EDSIEC and the state government had perfected plans to "write results". The party's State Publicity Secretary, Matthew Uroghide, said yesterday that the commission has been compromised.

"Our expectation is high; we will get a good outing. But the challenge we have is that most of the adhoc staffers of EDSIEC are members of ACN, and they are going to be used to manipulate the process. I am not talking because I am in PDP; I am talking what is on ground. We have information that EDSIEC wants to release half sensitive materials. But we are watching closely and we will fight against it. They (ACN) have been boasting that they will get 18 over 18, but is this how they are going to get it? In Edo central councils, we are waiting for reports. We have petitions from parts of Edo Central. They want to win at all cost in the five councils there. The election is skewed," Uroghide said.



The Guardian

[Shola Sholaz]

I just hope they pick the right person after all this days of intransperency. They should ensure it is all free and fair at the end of the day