People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed deep concern over the arrest of his supporters during the ongoing Edo election. He pointed fingers at the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of engaging in unethical tactics to sway the election, and called for fair treatment of all voters.

One alarming incident Ighodalo highlighted was the arrest of a PDP supporter at a polling unit in Uromi. According to Ighodalo, the individual was simply trying to get accredited when they were detained, raising questions about the fairness of the process.

During his statement, Ighodalo firmly condemned any form of armed presence at polling units, emphasizing that carrying firearms is illegal and against election regulations. He called for authorities to ensure a level playing field, noting that only PDP supporters seem to be targeted for arrest while APC supporters, who he claims have been involved in ballot paper theft and vote-buying, face no consequences.

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“I am disappointed with the delays in material distribution for the election,” Ighodalo said, criticizing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for not being better prepared for a single-state election. He also shared concerns about rumors of APC attempts to undermine the election process through vote-buying and other manipulations.

Despite these challenges, Ighodalo remains confident of a landslide victory, stating that the Nigerian military has taken charge of security and ensured the protection of voters. He urged voters to turn out and exercise their rights, expressing pride in his campaign’s months of outreach across the state.

“We have spent ten months speaking to the people, sharing our vision for Edo, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Ighodalo remarked. He remains optimistic about the outcome, but reiterated his call for a fair and transparent election process, free from intimidation and violence.