Edo 2016: APGA Candidate Wants Poll Shifted To Oct. 1

Osaro-OnaiwuThe All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the rescheduled governorship election in Edo State, Osaro Onaiwu, has called for further shift of the exercise to Oct. 1.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Thursday announced the postponement of the election earlier fixed for Saturday to Sept. 28, following a security advice by the Police and State Security Services.

Mr. Onaiwu, who spoke with journalists in Benin, the state capital on Monday explained that a further shift in the election date was necessary as Sept. 28 was the day students sitting for the ongoing General Certificate of Education (GCE) across the country, would write Physics.

He said Oct.1 was the “earliest possible date” for the election.

Mr. Onaiwu said the shift would afford eligible voters among the students to participate in the election.

According to him, education is number one pillar in APGA’s manifesto, and the authorities must be wary of threats from some of the students that they would sue INEC if they were‎ prevented from voting in the election.

On the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the election was postponed because it was obvious to the governing All Progressives Congress that it would lose to the PDP, the APGA candidate described such claim as a mere presumption.

He also berated the PDP for insisting that the election should have been allowed to go on.

“Are we going to wait for what happened in Rivers? PDP is crying because they know what we don’t know.

“Since security agencies said the election was not possible and INEC has shifted it, everybody should abide”, said Onaiwu, who resigned his position as Director-General of the PDP Governors Forum, to contest for the governorship seat of Edo.