A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo State, Dr Pius Odubu has appealed to the leadership of the party to urgently step into the alleged buying of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) from delegates ahead of the June 18 primaries.
Odubu who is the incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, made this appeal while fielding questions from journalists in Benin on Tuesday.
The deputy governor, who expressed worry over this development, also regretted the harassment and intimidation of delegates by the aspirant who is alleged to be stock-piling PVCs.
He however expressed confidence that given the caliber of people saddled with the responsibility to conduct the primaries, it will be free, fair and credible.
“That is not to say, however, that the processes leading to the primaries itself, is not giving us course for concern.
“You are not unaware of the latest talk in town now, that some people have been moving from ward to ward, local government to local government, collecting people’s PVC, for what purpose, I do not know.
“We are watching to see what they will do with them. We have also made known our feelings on this to the appropriate quarters; we hope they will address this unfortunate happening right now,” he said.
Asked if he will accept the outcome of the primaries should the party fail to address the issue before the primaries, he answered saying, “I trust my party, they will address this issue of PVC accordingly.”
He noted that the issue of mass buying of PVC and other abnormalities concerning the coming primaries in the state have been chronicled and made known to the national secretariat of the party by eleven of the twelve aspirants.
On how best to guarantee the security of delegates during and after the primaries, the deputy governor responded that those in charge of security will know how best to handle that.
“The federal government has the duty of providing security. I am sure our party, at the national level, is making adequate arrangements to ensure hitch free primaries.
“That includes the provision of security around the venue and also to protect the delegates in and around the venue at that particular time.
“And of course, we do not expect the party to provide security for the delegates from their various homes to the venue, but as it concerns the venue, I am quite sure the party is making adequate arrangements to protect the delegates and their properties, including us the aspirants.
On the rumour that the primaries will be held in a military base, Odubu simply said, “I am not the one in charge of the conduct of the primaries, so I do not know where the primaries will hold. But wherever it is going to be, we will be there with our delegates, by the Grace of God.
He said the contest of the primaries is not between him and the alleged governor’s preferred candidate, but with other eleven aspirants.
“As for my boss and elder brother, the governor, like I have said before, he has never told me that he is supporting anybody and I have not seen it, where he said so publicly.
“So, as far as I am concerned, he is a father that is going to remain impartial and on that day, cast his vote for any aspirant of his choice. I will not want to dwell on the rumours.
“For me, my driving force is God. I believe that it is God that gives power and if it is my time for Him to give me power, He will. I am looking up to him to favour us at the primaries and at the general election.
Reacting to the sacking of political appointees that are alleged to be loyal to him by the governor, he said the governor is at liberty to relieve anybody of his appointment if he feels not satisfied with such person’s performance.
“Mr Governor is the boss, he has the dossier of every one of us, at every point in time, he has the privilege of accessing our performances and if he is not satisfied, he has the liberty and right to drop anybody at any particular point.
Meanwhile, unless some urgent steps are taken, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo state chapter, Mr. Anslem Ojezua may not vote in this weekend’s party primaries to elect a flag bearer for the state governorship election on September 10, 2016.
The INEC Commissioner in the state, Mr. Sam Olumekun, who gave this indication in Benin City disclosed that Ojezua lost his card in 2015 and has since notified the Commission by attaching a police extract in his application for a new one.
Olumekun who did not say if Ojezua will get a new card on time for this weekend’s exercise confirmed that the permanent voter’s card (PVC) is the only criterion for one to vote in any election in Nigeria.
He told stakeholders at a forum held at the premises of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) office in Benin City that INEC was working hard to sensitize key actors on preparations ahead of the governorship election.
He said, the APC Chairman was not alone as several other Nigerians had similar problems and that the commission is finding out ways to resolve the issue.
