Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, has announced his determination to deal with people plotting to disrupt the September 19 election in the state.
The governor spoke during his campaign at Opoji, his ward in Esan central local government area of the state.
He said although he had received intelligence reports to suspend his campaign in Opoji, he decided not to succumb to threats.
“While I urge PDP members and supporters not to succumb to threats, we will tame the lions and tigers in Edo with relevant laws of our country,” he said.
He assured residents of the area that “adequate security would be provided on election day.”
Obaseki also promised the people of the area of the construction of the Opoji-Irrua road that would attract more development to the area if re-elected.
Tensions have been rising in the state as the September election draws near. Recently, the former governor of the state, Adams Oshimhole and a prominent supporter of Obaseki’s main challenger, Osagie Ize Iyamu, was caught on tape suggesting to the chief of staff to the president, Ibrahim Gambari, to arrest and “deal with” an unnamed opponent, hinting that if and when the said antagonist was dealt with, “everything will be alright.”
The opposition PDP condemned the suggestion made by the former national chairman of the ruling APC, insisting that it would not fold its arms and watch the manipulation of the election in favour of the APC.
The Edo guber election will be a re-make of the 2016 contest involving familiar heavyweights. However, while Obaseki battled it out four years ago as the candidate of the APC, he will in 2020 fly the flag of the PDP while Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the man who ran on the PDP platform four years ago would be the candidate of the APC this time.
