Barely a week to the governorship election in Edo State, a a socio-cultural group, the Edo Collectives, has raised the alarm over alleged importation of thugs into the state.
The governorship poll is scheduled for Saturday, 21st September 2024.
The group alleged that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is behind the alleged influx of thugs into Edo State.
According to the spokesman of Edo Collectives, Ese Ipboba, the thugs who are mostly from Kogi and Imo states, are meant to disrupt the election.
Ipboba said the thugs are already in position in Edo State, and have been briefed on their mission.
However, he warned against electoral violence, stressing that the people of Edo State are more determined to ensure a peaceful election come 21 September.
He said Edo people would do everything to protect their votes and are ready for the thugs.
“We will not allow them to come and disrupt the election. And we shall not give them the latitude to write results without recourse to the electorates,” he said.
Arogidigba Global Journal reports that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, refused to sign the Peace Accord ahead of the governorship poll.
The party says its members are being arrested and detained by the Police.
The APC and 16 other political parties signed the Peace Accord on Thursday, 12th September 2024 in Benin City.
The APC had initially declared that it would boycott the signing of the Peace Accord.