Rhetoric of violence heats up Edo gov’ship campaign

As the September 21 governorship election in Edo State draws nearer, political tensions have escalated, fuelled by rhetoric of violence from the two main political parties, Daily Trust reports.

With just 40 days to go, the atmosphere in the state is charged, raising concerns about the potential for unrest, especially as many observers see the election as a rematch of the 2020 elections between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his erstwhile political leader, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, when Obaseki trumped the candidate endorsed by Oshiomhole.

Though both will not be on the ballot on September 21, Obaseki’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, is expected to face a stiff challenge from Oshiomhole’s candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

Among the 17 political parties fielding candidates, the spotlight has primarily been on Ighodalo of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

• LG autonomy: FG trying to create another bureaucracy – PDP
• N/Assembly ‘ll create more opportunities for youths — Barau

Both parties have been embroiled in a war of words, accusing each other of inciting violence to gain an advantage in the election. This rhetoric has significantly heightened anxiety among the electorate.

The first major incident in this cycle of accusations was triggered by a viral video showing Rev. Olu Martins, the Deputy Director General of the PDP governorship campaign council, allegedly instructing supporters to destroy opposition billboards.

The APC, seizing on the video, accused the PDP of promoting violence and filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun. This led to Rev. Martins being arrested and charged in court.

Shortly after this incident, tension escalated further when the APC’s governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the reinstated deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, were attacked upon their return to Benin from Abuja.

The attack, which occurred at the Benin airport, resulted in the death of Inspector Akor Onu, Senator Okpebholo’s police orderly, and left several others injured. This incident intensified the mutual accusations, with each party blaming the other for the violence.

In response to the attack, APC’s acting chairman, Jarret Tenabe, called for security agencies to place Governor Godwin Obaseki on a watch list.

Tenabe accused Obaseki of threatening to burn down Edo State and Nigeria if those responsible for the airport attack were arrested—a claim that the governor has vehemently denied.

He further accused the governor of engaging in “incessant violent politics” that has exacerbated insecurity in the state.

The PDP, in turn, has accused the APC of similar tactics. PDP state chairman Tony Azeigbemi filed his own petition with the IGP, alleging that Tenabe had incited violence by suggesting in a viral video that boys should be organised to stone Governor Obaseki.

Azeigbemi also accused the police of bias, claiming that while they acted swiftly on the APC’s petition, they ignored the PDP’s complaints.

The Edo State government has also weighed in, accusing the APC of planning to incite civil unrest under the guise of protests. The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, warned that the government would not tolerate any attempt to disrupt the state’s peace and stability and urged security agencies to be vigilant.

On the APC side, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, the Director of Publicity for the party’s governorship campaign, called for security agencies to monitor local security bodies like the Edo State Security Network (ESSN). He alleged that these groups, associated with the PDP, possess unregistered arms and have a history of violence.

Omo-Ojo warned that failure to address the situation could lead to voter intimidation and low turnout, which would ultimately discredit the election’s outcome.

He further claimed that the July 18 attack on Senator Monday Okpebholo and Deputy Governor Shaibu was carried out by PDP members, citing the recovery of a Sienna bus allegedly used in the attack, which was adorned with PDP stickers.

However, despite the rising tensions, some political figures are downplaying the threat of violence.

Bishop Akhalamhe, the governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, expressed confidence that the election would be peaceful.

He viewed the current situation as typical political manoeuvring rather than genuine violence, contrasting it with the more intense violence seen during the 2020 elections.

“But what we are having now is not violence,” Akhalamhe said. “Politicians are only trading words. This election will be peaceful, and a winner will emerge.”

Also responding to enquiries, the Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, reassured the public that the state remains peaceful and that the police are in control of the situation.

Adegboye emphasised that the police have strategies in place to ensure peaceful elections, urging all political players to adhere to the rules to maintain peace.