Opposition Parties Move To Boycott Edo LG Polls

Ahead of the April 20, local government elections in Edo State, there are indications that opposition political parties in the state may boycott the polls.

State Chairman of Labour Party, Mr. Sam Omede, who gave the indication in a chat with newsmen shortly after he monitored his party’s primaries in Oredo Local Government Area of the state, alleged that there were plans by Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state to rig the election.

He said: “I spoke to some of our aspirants from Edo Central, and they quoted sources as alleging that the results of the elections would be written at Government House. They are therefore scared to contest the elections. We challenge Governor Adams Oshiomhole to come out and assure the people that the elections would be free and fair based on one man one vote that he has been preaching.

“If we find that the elections are not going to be free and fair, we will pull out.”

He said that the demand by the state Internal Revenue Board of tax clearance fee of N466,000 from councillorship aspirants and N750,000 from chairmanship aspirants was a ploy by the ACN-controlled government to scare away  contestants from other parties from participating in the elections.

Corroborating the allegation, Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Publicity Secretary, Mr. Mathew Urhoghide, confirmed the high tax clearance fee, explaining that the state government had threatened to collect more fees from businessmen-turned politicians, who failed to show proof of payment of their taxes.

~GABRIEL  ENOGHOLASE
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