APGA calls for further postponement of Edo poll

Osaro Onaiwu, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Edo state governorship election, has called for further shift of the exercise to October 1.

Citing advice from security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rescheduled the poll to September 28 from the initial date of September 10.

But addressing reporters in Benin on Monday, Onaiwu said the new date would affect students sitting for the ongoing General Certificate of Education (GCE).

He said Physics examination has been scheduled for September 28, and that October 1 was the “earliest possible date” for the election.

Onaiwu said moving it to next month would afford eligible voters among the students to participate in the election.

Emphasising education as the “number one pillar” in his party’s manifesto, Onaiwu warned the authorities to be wary of the threats of some of the students to sue INEC if they were‎ prevented from voting in the election.

He described as a mere presumption the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the election was postponed because it was obvious that the party would win.

Onaiwu slammed the PDP for insisting that the election should have been allowed to go on.

“Are we going to wait for what happened in Rivers? PDP is crying because they know what we don’t know,” he said.

“Since security agencies said the election was not possible and INEC has shifted it, everybody should abide.”