Edo poll: Free residents to elect their choice, Obaseki charges military chiefs

Abdullateef Fowewe

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has charged the military chiefs to allow Edo citizens to elect their preferred candidate, stating that he will accept the outcome of a properly conducted election.

Obaseki expressed this while sharing updates via his social media handle on Thursday about his meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, ahead of the upcoming Edo gubernatorial election.

He wrote, “I believe the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, is better positioned than anyone else to understand the national security implications of the Edo gubernatorial election.

“His presence and assurances of peace, security, non-partisanship, and the professional conduct of security personnel in the state have significantly assuaged the fears we previously expressed regarding the intimidation and arrest of members of the PDP by the police.

“We are not asking for any favour but are stating that Edo citizens should be free to go to the polls to elect the candidates of their choice. We will accept the outcome of a properly conducted election.”

He added that for the past eight years, the security agencies in the state have been cooperative in helping the state address security worries.

However, he pleaded with the military chiefs not to compromise their previous achievement due to the forthcoming guber election in the state.

“For 8 years, the security forces in the state have been highly cooperative in helping us address security concerns. Together, we have established Forward Operating Bases and designed a digitised security architecture that has made Edo one of the safest states in the nation.

“All we have achieved in terms of security must not be compromised based on the forthcoming election,” he wrote.