On assumption of office, he vowed to cut the wings of the political godfathers. With the crushing defeat of PDP in the rerun elections in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has lived up to the billing, reports  Osagie Otabor

As the Edo State Action Congress campaign train rolled into Udoshi village,  a riverine community in Etsako Central Local Government Area, a young boy of about 12 years attracted the crowd. He was carrying a placard with the inscription: “Welcome to the burial ceremony of  the PDP”.

The defeat suffered by the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) at the recent re-run election in Etsako Central Constituency reinforced the peoples’ desire for change.
In remote villages and riverine communities like Udabah, Ugomere, Osomogbe, Ugoshi and Udochi, basic amenities are lacking. A girl told reporters that she used to spend over N500 for transportation to a secondary school in neighbouring town, Ekperi.
Basic educational facilities, including electricity, quality health care, portable water and access roads were lacking and the people of these communities could not point to any project done by the previous government.

The traditional rulers of Oghomere, Ogbago, Ogochi, Okpenada, Otsuko and Odame complained about the neglect of the area when the AC campaign team led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole visited them
“No government has ever considered bringing development to us as has been demonstrated by your administration. Let me inform you that, if there is any ward where AC will record 100 percent in this election, it is ward 07. We are not a people who are ungrateful to God,”they said.

In these remote communities, not a single PDP poster was found on the walls of the houses; neither was ther any bill board; an indication that either the PDP had not campaigned in those areas or the people have totally rejected the party.

The PDP had never suffered a humiliation  like that before in the state. In that free and fair election, its leaders kissed the dust .
Etsako Central is the stronghold of the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, and former deputy governor and Principal Secretary to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe.

The battle for the control of the constituency was not a battle between the contestants, Mr. Chris Umogbai of the PDP and Mr. Oghuma Johnson of the AC. It was a battle between the Chairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Chief Tony Anenih and PDP on the one side, and former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Ahkigbe and Governor Adams Oshiomhole on the other hand.

For different reasons, both Oshiomhole and Akhigbe saw Chief Anenih as a common political enemy that should be crushed, although Akhigbe is a member of the PDP.
Akhigbe felt Chief Anenih who hails from Uromi in Edo Central Senatorial District, should not dictate who becomes the representative of Edo North Senatorial District where Etsako Central is located.

During the 2007 general elections and 2008 local government elections,  a tearful Akhigbe narrated to  reporters how he was prevented from voting by thugs who shot into the air and carted away ballot boxes.

Besides, Akhigbe and Anenih are parallel leaders of the PDP. Akhigbe belongs to the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia-led faction of the PDP and he has never hidden his distaste for Anenih dictatorial  tendencies.
Two days to the election, Akhigbe called a stakeholders meeting attended by traditional rulers of Fugar. Hee told them to vote for candidates of their choice.

He reeled out some of the projects awarded for execution across Edo North Senatorial District when he was the Chief of General Staff under former Head of State, Gen. Abdulalami Abubakar. But, Akhigbe lamented that the projects were revoked by Anenih when he was serving as the minister of works.
He said: “I am a bonafide member of PDP, but I don’t belong to the illegal faction of Chief Tony whose stock in trade was rigging of elections, imposition of candidate, and lack of respect for due process and the rule of law.  I remain firmly committed to the enthronement of democratic practices, as well as respect for the rule of law.

“Hence, I thereby ask all of you to come out on Saturday to cast your vote for the candidate of your choice. This election is not about AC and PDP, but it is about electing a credible candidate that would attract development to the local government as a true representative of the people.
“It is disheartening that, in 2007, we were prevented from casting our votes by people who carted away ballot boxes through gun-totting and the use of force. This election is an opportunity for us to redeem our battered image, to show that we are not all political thugs as the member of the community has never indulged in election rigging”.

To Adams Oshiomhole, ensuring a free and fair election was a task that must be accomplished. His slogan was:‘One-man-one-vote’ and his campaign message:‘let the people lead’.
Oshiomhole wanted to crush Anenih who allegedly made his administration to  lose the N5.4bn UBE fund in 2009.  Moreover, he wanted to prove that he was in charge.
However, to avoid what happened in Akoko-Edo Constituency 1 re-run election, the PDP raised an  alarm that men of the Edo State Police Command were not to be trusted in ensuring free and fair election. It alleged that Oshiomhole had bribed the police officers with N130,000 each.

The PDP also complained about the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hon. Aniedi Ikoiwak and  Joint Task Force attached to a security outfit code name “Operation Thunderstorm”.
About one week to the election, Ikoiwak was removed as Edo State REC and replaced with Ahmed Raji in what INEC described as a routine operation within its system. Also, the military men attached to “Operation Thunderstorm” were asked to withdraw.

The withdrawal of the military men was greeted with protest by the organized labour, students, market women and commercial bus drivers.
Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) ,Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo who led members of his association to join the protest, said it was wrong for  military personnel to be withdrawn at a time when Edo State needed security. A statement signed by both state chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Comrade Kaduna Ebogboidin and Comrade Joe Aligbe respectively,  said it was disturbing that no clear reason has been given for the withdrawal of the military personnel.

“We are forced as congresses to believe that all those behind the planned withdrawal do not wish our people well. They are those who celebrate our pains. We see it as  caculated attempt to bring anarchy to our state. We reject the withdrawal of military men. As a matter of public interest, we request Mr. President’s intervention to stop the withdrawal move because all those involved are simply nihilist whose plan is against the Edo people.”

In his 45 minute-address to the protesters,  Oshiomhole alleged that Anenih had boasted that he would convince the Defence Minister, Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), to withdraw the soldiers. He also alleged that  PDP had procured arms and ammunition to fight the Etsako Central re-run election, but were having problems taking them to the local government because of the presence of the Joint Task Force at various checkpoints.

“This is our land, the land of Edo people. We cannot be intimidated. Never again will anybody rig election and go to bed.  Edo State, like some other states, has been prone to kidnappers and armed robbery and other violence crimes. It is the primary responsibility of any government to guarantee security of lives of its people and their properties. If the Nigeria state can no longer guaranteed security of lives and property, then we are in trouble.”
He also debunked the claim by the PDP that he (Oshiomhole) wanted to use the soldiers to rig the election, saying that it is PDP that have used the state apparatus to kill and maim, and that all his life, he had used peaceful means as a former labour leader to mobilize Nigerians to achieve his objectives.

Beside the withdrawal of the JTF and the change in the REC, the Edo State Police Command was ordered not to go any where near Etsako Central as 4,000 police officers were drafted from 25 different units across the country under the command of Assistant   Inspector  General  of  Police (AIG)   Felix Ogbadu.

At a meeting with representatives of political parties, Ogbadu, while reading the riot act, advised politicians not to create problems in  Etsako Central in their bid to winning the election.
He admonished them not to do things that would make him fire a single shot during the elections.

Ogbadu also threatened to arrest any police officer found escorting any state government officials to Etsako Central.
On the election day, heavy security presence was noticed at the premises of INEC office in Fugar. The security operatives stopped and search every vehicle and prevented persons not accredited by INEC from staying 100metres from INEC premises.

Before voting materials were dispatched as early as 7:30am under the watchful eyes of agents of the various political parties, the first fraud was discovered by the agent of the AC.
The AC agent discovered that the names presented as INEC officials for ward 9, unit 4,5,6 were fictitious.

In ward 8, it was also discovered that the column was blank, but AC agent, Victor Ekhator insisted that the columns be filled with INEC staff before the materials could be allowed to leave INEC premises.
The fictitious names for ward 8 were later replaced with INEC staff present at the premises.

According to the AC agent, “some fictitious names were discovered. All the questionable names were confirmed and removed and were later replaced with INEC staff.”

Election materials were delivered to 10 wards under heavy security and voting started as early as 9am.
In different polling units visited, election went on peacefully as security operatives located in different strategic points subjected everybody to thorough searching.

There were no reported cases of gunshot or snatching of ballot papers, except for six persons who were arrested for impersonation. 
The six persons were arrested in Fugar and Ogbonna for impersonating agents of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)
Trouble started when the candidate for the ANPP in the election, Mr. Uka Aruna, raised an alarm that the agents supposedly representing him in different polling units were not known to him and that they were PDP agents.

After questioning by security operatives present at the polling units, the suspected impersonators were arrested and taken to the police station.
Also, three fake INEC staff, one of them a staff of Edo State Ministry of Agriculture in charge of Fadama project in Akoko-Edo  were arrested in Anegbette, ward 8, and the sum of N500,000 was found on him.

They gave their names as Anslem Longe, Akande Francis and Solomon Evbogbai  . The latter claimed to be a staff of National Youth Service Corps.

It was learnt that the Electoral Officer in charge of Etsako Central Constituency was under initial pressure not to announce the result that night, but was prevailed upon by Akhigbe and some notable leaders.

The results released by INEC showed that AC won in ward 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 where it had 624, 915, 498, 1024, 743, 2076, 566 and 497 votes respectively. PDP had 443, 466, 326, 291, 75, 402, 242 and 268 votes respectively.

The two wards won by PDP were ward 4 and 5 where it scored 762 and 336 respectively as against the AC which had 677 and 265 votes.
Declaring the AC candidate winner, the Electoral Officer, said:“This is an election keenly contested by three candidates. 29,971 were the total number of registered voters in Etsako Central local government.

The AC scored 7,884, ANPP scored 1 votes, DPP scored 6 while the PDP scored 3,712 votes. The number of rejected votes were 2146 while 13,337 were the total votes cast in this election.”
“In my capacity as the constituency returning officer in Etsako Central Local government, I, Glenn Ukomadu hereby certified I was the returning officer of the re-run election held in Etsako central constituency. The election was contested and the candidate had the following votes, Oghuma Johnson scored 7, 884, Chris Umogbai scored 3, 712 votes. Oghuma Johnson is hereby declared the winner of the election signed this day”.

It was joy for residents of Etsako Central Constituency who told newsmen that the election was the first time they were actually participating in election process since 1999.

According to Bassel Ikpemhi, “They used to come with thugs to harass us and chase us away. There has never been an election in this village. You can  see every where is calm. We will accept whoever is declared winner.”
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nother farmer, Mr. Johnson  Ikpea, said: “I have never seen an election as peaceful as this”.

A Benin High Chief, Osamede Adun, said  that the election was a signal that godfatherism has ended in Edo State .
“You will see old men and women coming out to vote, even in villages. The election is a sign that nobody needs to depend on any godfather to win any election again. If you are popular, the people will vote for you”.

A coalition of civil society organisations which included the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Nigeria Labour Congress, Gani Fawehinmi Movement for Good Governance, One Love Foundation for Good Governance and Social Change monitored the Etsako Central re-run election and adjudged it as ‘one of the best in recent times”.

It  recommended that civil society organizations in Edo State should be properly accredited by INEC to observe future elections in the state and that INEC should display the voter register two weeks to the election so that all stakeholders can validate it.

The coalition urged the various political parties to develop and encourage internal democracy that will throw up popular candidates.
The Edo Coalition for Democracy and Good Governance, in its report made available to newsmen, said that 15,804 registered voters did not turn out to vote during the Etsako Central re-run.
The group’s Coordinator, Mr. Tony Erha, said that 13,367 persons actually voted in the election out of the 29,171 in the voters register.

“Obviously, the registered number of voters in the register for the area would have been over-bloated since there was a concerted awareness about the re-run and the heavy turnout of voters.
“The fact that we still need heavy security presence to conduct elections is an indication that there is still a great problem. Political parties and individual stakeholders need to adhere to the rules of the game”, the group said.

Special Adviser to Governor Oshiomhole on Political Matters, Hon Charles Idahosa, said, with the successful conduct of the Etsako Central House of Assembly re-run election, a new phase of political freedom have been opened where the people will have confidence on the ballot box.

In a speech titled ‘It is finished’, he described the election as “heritage of a statesman and a man of great faith in the power of the people to direct the course of leadership”.
“The undemocratic imposition of candidates on the people is finished. The people of Edo State hitherto frustrated by deceit and barren leadership gave the Comrade Governor their ears. With the last re-run election, the verdict on the proud and egoistic leader was loud and clear. 

Oshiomhole said that the outcome of the re-run election was a fore-runner of what to expect in Anambra State , adding that only the people will determine who governs them.
“It shows that the Nigeria police is capable of helping to ensure that the right of our people is upheld. We also see that INEC under favourable security conditions  can perform like any electoral umpire anywhere in the world.”
Akhigbe said that the victory was an indication of the peoples’ will, adding that the PDP will bear the loss with dignity and respect for the rule of law.

He told reporters at Fugar, headquarters of the Etsako Central local council, that “the re-run election was a demonstration that Nigeria can conduct election on one man one vote”.
“This election has demonstrated that Nigeria cam conduct election on one man one vote. We bear our loss with dignity and respect for the rule of law. Everybody voted for who he wants to vote for. That is a major satisfaction for me as an individual. I believe also that Anambra should return to the basics, that is, “One man one vote,” he said For the first time, the PDP said it was  accepting the results of the re-run election.

It however, said that the election was one event in the long term project of wrestling power from the Oshiomhole-led Action Congress government.
The PDP, in a statement signed by the State Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih said: “the task of wrestling power from Oshiomhole has just begun and the PDP is determined to ensure that we provide an alternative government for our people in Edo State come 2012.
Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Frank Okiye, told The Nation on phone that the election demonstrated the need for political office holders to be close to their people.
He said the election should not be used as a yardstick for comparing elections in other parts of the state.  
He said: “It is unfortunate. The need to be close to the people should not be compromised”.
With the defeat, the AC is now at par with the PDP in terms of membership in the  House of Assembly. Both parties now have 12 members each which now make the fate of the Speaker, Hon Zakawanu Garuba, to be  hanging in the balance.
For political observers, the outcome of the poll showed that Anenih was losing grip.