20th September, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State Government has commended military operatives for repelling suspected thugs who reportedly hijacked the Oredo local government office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It was gathered that some yet-to-be-identified hoodlums had hijacked INEC premises along Ekehuan Road before they were repelled by military operatives.
The government on Friday at a press briefing jointly addressed by the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare and the Special Adviser to the Governor on media project, Crusoe Osagie, commended the military for their prompt action.
Nehikhare said: “We have just been told that thugs have taken over some of the INEC offices across some of the LGAs, especially Oredo, Etsako West, Esan West am some of the very serious LGAs. We don’t know which party they belong to.
“But, just before I stepped into this place, we were told that the soldiers have repelled the thugs at Oredo secretariat and pushed them to the other side of the road.
“We just want the to know that this kind of activity is not acceptable. But, just before I stepped into this place, we were told that soldiers have repelled these thugs from Oredo secretariat and made them go across the road and now there is a border around the collation center
“We want to encourage the soldiers to please go across the 18 local government headquarters and take possession of these collation centers.
“The information we are hearing is that they planned to attack these collation centers, especially the strongholds, like Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba/Okha.
“But, I’m smiling because I’m happy with what the soldiers are doing and they are showing character and discipline and telling people that they should not be intimidated by what is going on.
“We also want to encourage our people, all Edo people, to come out and vote, they cannot be intimated, they cannot be stopped.
“There are ugly trends building up, but we are pleased to announce that the soldiers are on top of it. The soldiers have recovered Oredo secretariat back.”
Also speaking, Mr. Caruso Osagie urged the electorate to disregard any form of intimidation and come out to vote for candidate of their choice.
“At the moment, the Ordeo local government INEC office, there was an attempt by some thugs to overrun the place, but we understand now that they have been pushed back by special forces and the military.
“All is well, the city is calm, the people should be ready to come out tomorrow to exercise their franchise and vote for whoever they want to choose as their governor for the next four years, they should not be intimidated, they should not feel frightened, the military people will be all over the place protecting them,” he added.
