The incumbent Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has exercised his civic rights in the ongoing governorship election.
Obaseki reached his designated voting spot at Ward 4, Emokpae Primary School, situated in Benin City, Eredo Local Government, and was immediately accredited.
He completed his voting within a span of less than 10 minutes.
Following the voting, Obaseki shared his contentment with the electoral process, calling on INEC to guarantee a smooth vote counting.
He also commended the electorate for their presence despite the heavy rain, showing their commitment to their civic duty.
Meanwhile, the Edo State gubernatorial election has been claimed as a triumph for the people, despite alleged attempts by hostile forces to undermine the electoral process, according to the deputy director-general of the Asue Ighodalo Campaign, Dr. Pedro Obaseki.
In an interview with AIT late Thursday, Obaseki asserted that the citizens of Edo would successfully push through their choice of candidate, even in the face of intimidation tactics reportedly employed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and supported by federal security agencies.
He criticized using armoured tanks as a means of coercion during the campaign led by a former state governor.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the lead-up to the election, with claims of undue influence exerted by federal authorities in favour of the APC.
He said, “I am giving it to you that as of 7.30 p.m. as we speak at his place (former governor of Edo State), there are two armoured tanks, one on this side, one on the other side and about 30 police vehicles, then all the thugs are there.
“There is no thoroughfare there right now, but that will not work. The Edo people had no de fear. On a normal level, we know how to face these people. So, on the day of the poll, we will all move to the polls, and all express ourselves not because of but in spite of all these people that want to mangle us.
“When Edo people, a set of people who for centuries no tribe of black extraction ever conquered, when we are confronted with things that want to pull at our strength, we rise up and we fight back.
“With our PVCs, we will trample these people who are bent on changing the will of our people. This can happen anywhere else, but this is Edo, a race that has the conqueror DNA and any other person whosoever wants to, we will sweep them away with their brooms. The Edo people know that Asue Ighodalo is our umbrella into our future.”
