BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN – ACTIVITIES were brought to a standstill for several hours in the ancient city of Benin, yesterday, when Governor Adams Oshiomhole met with thousands of market women and youths numbering over 700, urging them to ensure that they protect their votes at  weekend’s election. Oshiomhole raised alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had perfected plans to disrupt elections in the state.

But Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Col.Tunde Akogun, yesterday, raised alarm over alleged plans by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to rig the forthcoming elections by causing violence in Akoko Edo.

Akogun, who accused the ACN of raising false alarm on the alleged plot by the PDP to arrest ACN candidates, said that the candidates of the ACN were not threat to that of the PDP.

Col.Akogun who is seeking a third term in the House of Representatives, spoke through his media aide, Mr Kayode Alabi.

Governor Oshiomhole, who met with market women in Oba Market went round the Ring Road with the crowd,  stressed that the elections in the state must be held peacefully and that the people should “deal with” whoever that wants to rig the polls. He announced the immediate employment of 4,000 youths and urged them to ensure peace during the elections.

He accused the former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Lucky Imasuen and the former state representatives on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Mathew Iduoriyekenwen of allegedly plotting to disrupt weekend’s election by unleashing mayhem in Edo South with a view to rigging the polls for the PDP.

Reacting, the duo described the allegation as laughable, and warned that the governor was moving the state towards anarchy.

Imasuen said,  “Oshiomhole at  Okada rally, urged ACN members to be killing people and specifically mentioned my name (Imasuen) that they should kill me. Since then, he has been inciting the public against PDP members. We are ready for free and fair elections and not violence but unfortunately he has been calling for violence and we hope that security agencies will do their work by calling him to order now.”

According to him, “ it is sad that instead of the ACN to tell the people what they have done, they are busy peddling rumours that PDP want to rig,  when they are the ones plotting to use violence against PDP members in Akoko Edo.

“ACN candidates such as Akpatason and Domingi have no electoral value and that is why they are raising false alarm, alleging intimidation. Every body knows what Akogun has achieved so far, the several Federal Government projects he had attracted to the state and Akoko Edo in particular,” he added.