The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged on Thursday that the state government was planning to use its Edo State Vigilante Network to intimidate opposition and manipulate Saturday’s elections. The claim was made in a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadiae, which warned of a “secret move” by Governor Godwin Obaseki to employ the vigilante network to “intimidate, harass and cause mayhem during and after the elections, particularly in the rural areas of the state.” The APC emphasized that the Electoral Act 2022 does not envisage the use of vigilante personnel for security duties during elections; the only security agents contemplated by the Act are the Nigeria Police Force.
Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, dismissed the APC’s allegation as a false alarm. He questioned how the government could be accused of undermining an election it expected to win, calling the APC’s story “cooked up” and lacking evidence. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, reinforced this view, stating that no quasi‑security outfit would participate in the election and that only the Nigeria Police and other sister security agencies are legally permitted to do so.
Meanwhile, Kelvin Uwaibi, Managing Director of the Edo State Investment Promotion Office, addressed journalists on “The 2023 Presidential Elections and Possible Impact on Businesses in Nigeria.” He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Federal Government, and other stakeholders to collaborate in order to ensure credible and peaceful elections in February and March. Uwaibi warned that distorted elections anywhere in the world negatively affect the business environment, leading to job losses and an unproductive economy.
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