BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN—HUNDREDS of supporters of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State, yesterday, took to the streets of Auchi, the administrative headquarters of the council, in protest over the outcome of the April 20 local government elections in the area.

The protesters,  who chanted songs and armed with placards of different inscriptions, marched through the Auchi Polytechnic Road, Igbe Road, Warrake Road, Igarra Road and the Benin-Auchi-Okene Highway but were stopped by soldiers stationed at the entrance to the local government secretariat from gaining entry into the council.

They demanded, among other things, the outright cancellation of the elections held throughout the state, and called for fresh elections.

Chairman of  PDP in Estako West, Mr. Baba  Idenebomhe and Mr. Sule Asemokhai, who spoke on behalf of  the protesters, said that their protest was to let Nigerians, and indeed the whole world, know that no election took place in Estako West on April 20, insisting that those who were sworn in as chairmen and councilors were not the representatives of the people.

Idenebomhe said: “We are protesting to let Nigerians know that there was no election here. I want to let you know that election did not take place because we waited at the council secretariat from morning till night, there were no election materials, no result sheets and they brought materials that were incomplete.

“We are calling for the outright cancellation of the entire election that took place on April 20, because there was no election. What happened was a manipulation of the entire electoral process. We want Nigerians to prevail on Governor Adams Ashiomole to conduct a fresh election that will be free and fair for the people of Edo State.”