But for the quick intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, the likes of Tony Anenih and Gabriel Igbinedion would have masterminded a huge electoral fraud that would have kicked off an upheaval during the last Edo State Governorship election.<\/p>\n
Pointblanknews.com sources hinted that the chieftains of the People\u2019s Democratic Party (PDP), had perfected their strategy of massive rigging against a very formidable incumbent, Adams Oshiomhole.<\/p>\n
According to our source, the Action Congress\u2019 leadership in Edo was aware of the plot by the Edo PDP, to compromise the former Police commissioner, Olayinka Balogun, use thugs, and infiltrate the INEC ranks in the state.<\/p>\n
It was for this reason that the Edo Governor raised an alarm few days before the polls. He had said \u201cLet Anenih perish the thought that he will rig in Edo State, because he will not be able to do so.<\/p>\n
The people are the constant denominator. When the man lost the last election and is now boasting that he is standing on one toe, it can only be that he wants to rig. We decided that the way to punish Anenih, the godfather, is to bring development to his people, which he failed to give them. That is why he will continue to depend on rigging.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Edo Governor also urged the President not to be sucked in by the PDP leadership in Edo. He said \u201c\u201cI believe President Goodluck Jonathan has committed himself to one-man one-vote and I will like to encourage him to know that the business is not over. Some of the old men around him do not believe in the slogan. While they are preaching one-man one-vote, the godfather in Edo is talking of the presidency support that they will re-capture. How will the presidency help them to re-capture? Are they coming to vote in Edo State? I know this president will not allow anybody to behave as if Edo State is a retirement benefit on account of his services to his party.<\/p>\n
President Jonathan, it was gathered, insisted \u2018votes must count\u2019. Said our source \u201c The AC\u00a0 at a point and even the Governor were somehow uncomfortable with security reports on plans by the PDP. They were worried because, the consequences would have been massive as the people would have revolted and resort to violence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pointblanknews.com source also revealed that President Jonathan insisted that no form of malpractice would be tolerated because of its consequences. The President, it was further gathered, tried to prevail on Anenih and his men but they were adamant because they wanted victory at all cost.<\/p>\n
Said the source \u201c when they refused to heed to the President\u2019s call, he placed calls to the chief of Army staff, General Azubike Ihejirika,\u00a0 and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar. He asked that 3500 army personnel be deployed to Edo,\u00a0 why Mohammed was asked to remove Olayinka Balogun who is barely six months in the saddle. They brought a deputy CP, Femi Adenaike is not familiar with the PDP chiefs\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n
The change of CP was reportedly effected at the Benin Airport just before the IGP travelled to Abuja after attending last stakeholders meeting before the election and addressing policemen at the Zone 5, Command Headquarters in Benin.<\/p>\n
The move by Jonathan was\u00a0 to forestall any attempt to rig and spur violence. The soldiers and the police personnel, were given specific instructions to stop any move by any group to subvert the electoral process or resort to violence\u201d<\/p>\n
Even though a section of the media and some Action Congress felt the soldiers were there to give cover for Anenih and his men, intelligence report available to Oshiomhole said otherwise.<\/p>\n
That was why in a state broadcast he said \u201c only people who intended to foment trouble during the election should be worried about the deployment of soldiers in the state. The army is here to deal with trouble makers. The only people who need to be worried are those who intend to cause trouble,\u201d he said. \u201cI have every confidence that this election will be so free as if we are celebrating Christmas. So, don\u2019t be scared. The army are there as your friends. They are Nigerians\u201d<\/p>\n
The move\u00a0 to send soldiers to Edo drew flaks from some members of the National Assembly and Chief Edwin Clark<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
But for the quick intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, the likes of Tony Anenih and Gabriel Igbinedion would have masterminded a huge electoral fraud that would have kicked off an…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2854,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n