Planned protest: Ize Iyamu afraid of defeat —Obaseki

The Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organisation (GOCO) has described as an expression of fear of defeat, the planned protest by a group loyal to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, Pastor Ize Iyamu.

In a statement issued in Benin City, on Sunday, the campaign organisation said the protest planned by the group, Redemption Group, was meant to disrupt the peace of the state.

The statement added, “We wish to alert members of the public and the security agents on the cowardly plan of PDP, its candidate and their agents provocateurs to cause mayhem before,  during and after theelection.

“Our candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, and our teeming supporters have maintained peaceful campaign, despite physical attacks, harassment and intimidation from the opposition, insisting that election and political office is not a do-or-die matter.”

It said further that when Obaseki got wind of the planned protest, he, in a published statement, charged his fellow contestants from other political parties in the forthcoming governorship election to keep the peace before, during and even after the  election.

Obaseki said: “Cowards die  many times before their death, the sponsored protest slated for Monday is an act of cowardice intended to blackmail the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC),  taunt the police and other law enforcement agents and intimidate  the  voters.”

“We see the arranged protest by paid agents of PDP and Iyamu as the last act by a wobbling candidate and his divided party who stare imminent defeat clearly in the face,”  he  added

The APC candidate also reminded his co-contestants that Edo State was bigger than any or all of them, urging them not to do anything that could jeopardise the peace and progress of the state.

He noted that no election was worth dying for and therefore, admonished his fellow contestants not to make the forthcoming governorship election in the  state a matter of life and death.

Obaseki further counselled his rivals to instruct their followers and supporters not to engage in acts capable of disrupting the peace of Edo State which, he noted, was widely regarded as the most peaceful state in the usually volatile South-South geo-political zone.

“Election will come and go but Edo State would remain forever”, Obaseki stressed,  adding that he was certain to win the September 10 election judging by the immense goodwill he and his party,  have garnered before and during the campaign.

“Edo people have vowed never to go back into the dark era of PDP. Our people should be allowed to freely express their choice for governor on Saturday.  It is their fundamental and inalienable right provided for by the  constitution