21st March, 2023
By Jethro Ibileke
The member representing Owan Federal Constituency of Edo at the National Assembly, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, has condemned what he described as raging violence that characterized last Saturday’s House of Assembly elections in several polling units in Owan West Local Government Area in particular and some parts of the State in general.
Ihonvbere who stated this on Tuesday a statement by his Senior Aide on Media and Public Affairs, Joshua Iraoya, noted that what happened in Owan West Local Government Area during the elections is not only a sham, but desperation taken to the extreme by those who seek to represent the people.
According to him, “Most of the polling units that are APC’s strong-holds were invaded by PDP thugs who randomly fired shots and threatened women with cutlasses and sticks this scaring away harmless voters before the carting away ballot boxes and other electoral materials thereby denying many people the rights to freely choose their representatives.
“Those who emerge through such demonic and devious processes have enormous moral burden hanging on their necks because they do not command the respect and confidence of the people they claim to be representing.
He, however, called on the people of Owan West to remain calm while issues arising from the State Assembly elections are being looked into holistically by the APC leadership.
Meanwhile, Prof. Ihonvbere has congratulated members of the APC who were elected in last Saturday’s State Assembly elections.
Ihonvbere who is Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services, described their victory as tortuous, but deserved.
He added that their victory came about as a result of their resilience, tenacity, strong will to survive and courage in the face of extreme adversity occasioned by the very unfriendly and hostile environment introduced by Obaseki’s administration into the politics of Edo State.
The federal lawmaker posited that the elected APC members have so many reasons to celebrate because their emergence and victory at the polls is a true reflection of the will of the people they seek to represent at the State legislature.