Edo LG poll: Oshiomhole accuses Police of aiding electoral fraud

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has accused the police of aiding ballot box snatching, supervising electoral fraud and intimidating voters in the just-concluded Esan North East Local Government election held in the state. Speaking at the swearing in of the council Chairman, Mr. Sam Oboh, at the Government House in Benin City yesterday, Oshiomhole said: “I am embarrassed that the police have become electoral officials. What I heard yesterday and I am still investigating and if the reports are correct, then Nigerians should be put on notice that the Police may well have chosen to become the INEC or EDSIEC officials and have chosen to overthrow those who are authorised by law to conduct elections. “As a Nigerian, I am embarrassed that the police are involved in carrying electoral materials, arresting EDSIEC returning officers and coercing them into a police station and converting it into a collation centre supervised by policemen imported from Abuja and Lagos in other to subvert the will of the people of Esan North East. “As a civilised man, I felt ashamed that men in uniform at rather very senior level, supervised this criminal act of the police in yesterday’s (Tuesday) election.” The governor alleged that a serving minister and other federal officials, including lawmakers, used their exalted positions, taking unfair advantage of the police assigned to protect them and deployed them for election purpose, detaining returning officers and treating them as if they were prisoners of war compelling them to sign fake results.” Oshiomhole said the law establishing the electoral commission was clear, adding that nowhere was it stated that a police post was an electoral office. “Law enforcement officers led by a Commissioner of Police were involved in converting a police post to an electoral centre. It is an embarrassment. No one will live forever but our reputation will live after us. Edo State, under my watch will not submit to intimidation.” “Anyone who is under the illusion that they can use the instrument of coercion to intimidate us is a poor student of history. We are at our best when we are challenged. I want to appeal to federal authorities and the security agencies to remain faithful to their oath of office,” he said