Just hours before the commencement of the Edo State governorship election, members of the Edo State Civil Society Organisation said they have received information that some political parties plan to import mercenaries into the state to cause mayhem.
The group further expressed displeasure that most of the political candidates do not have a documented manifesto for citizens assessment.
It also said they do not have blueprints on how they intend to lead Edo State to development and progress, if elected.
The group stated these observations while addressing journalists on Friday.
The group stated: “We have been reliably informed of plans by the big political parties to or have already imported mercenaries from other states into Edo State to cause mayhem during this Saturday’s election without consideration of its aftermath consequences.
“These same political parties have stacked a lot of money aside for vote buying.
“A lot of PVCs belonging to voters have been surreptitiously collected and seized by these big political parties’ leaders and kept away to disenfranchise voters in the areas of their uncertainty.
“Furthermore, threat messages and utterances are sent openly to voters not to come out on election day in areas and communities where they consider themselves weak to win in a free and fair situation.
“Leaders of some of the political parties have declared that this election is a do-or-die affair and that there will be war if the election doesn’t go their way.”
The group stated that rather than put its documentation in order, the candidates were observed to have been “jumping from one point to another creating more tension and fear among the people in a bid to only grab political power and rule over our resources”.
According to the group, it will not fail to mention that there have been pockets of violence in some parts of the state that have been recorded.
It added: “We however advise all the truly contesting political parties, their candidates and supporters to tone down their rage and start seeing this election as aspirations to serve the people and not a war, where a victor and a vanquished will be declared.
“We must develop the same culture of always considering ourselves as brothers and sisters and not enemies that must be conquered for political gains.”
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Addressing comments to security agencies, the group thanked the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for the temporal suspension of the local security vigilante system and the declaration of possession of all firearms by same or any other persons illegal, and criminal during this election period.
It said: “We want to reiterate for the umpteenth time that the police and other security agencies must be above board in this election.
“They must truly give protection to citizens and not look away at distressed calls.
“They must not be seen as being partisan by their activities.
“They must do everything within their power to protect and defend our democracy.
“They must strongly adhere to the respect for human rights and the dignity of persons throughout this election period.”
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