Edo state Governor Adams Oshiomhole who addressed journalists after casting his vote at 5:58pm at Unit 1, Ward 10, Iyamho said the military disrupted the electoral process by intimidating and oppressing voters and INEC officials.
He told news men that : "there are disturbing stories in many places. The Army has been used in a very criminal way to harass, intimidate and beat up voters in many units. For example at Fugar, our officers there were beaten up. They were going to take them away and the people were able to resist them. They went to another unit within the same Fugar, beat up people there, arrested the Local Government Chairman and took him away to the barracks on the order of General Odidi.
"In Auchi, everything was going well. They started counting and it was clear that APC was winning the Presidency, Senate and the House of Reps. To my surprise, the man that I respect so much, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi who I regard as a brother brought troops to Auchi, attacked women, beat up elderly people, attacked the electorate and disrupted elections at Auchi once they saw that the result being announced so far favored APC and favored Buhari."Dokpesi brought Army from nowhere. I don't know when Dokpesi became commander in chief of the Army to have such rights. You have seen me, I am the Governor of this state and with all humility I am the number one citizen of the state but I am abiding by the rules which say that there is restriction of movement, that is why I am here at my polling unit. I have vehicles, I have bodyguards, I have even ordinary people who I can carry along to anywhere but as a leader I have to show example."Even when they delayed the supply of materials to 2pm, our people waited. Now I don't understand how Dokpesi has suddenly become an extremist using Soldiers to hit at women, using soldiers to hit at elderly people, using soldiers to drive away electorate so that they can write result sheets. I am ashamed of him and I think it is a sad day for Nigeria because for people like that, I think they have the greatest stake in democracy. I don't know what his contract is that he had to go this far to do this very dirty job but I do not think it will change what God has willed.
"In Igueben, I have just been told that once they again saw that they were losing, Tom Ikimi invited the Army and the Army responded and they were beating up women, beating up the elderly. I emphasise women because as you can see from here, they just sat down, they are patient, they want to exercise their right. The men might be tired and leave but they will stay there. The good thing is that the voters are not fighting. In all cases, I have not heard where I am told the police are harassing people, it is the Army that is beating people, it is the Army that Dokpesi is using."In Edo South we are also having all kind of stories. In many cases, they didn't bring result sheets. In Akoko Edo in some Units they didn't bring result sheet which makes voting difficult. In many areas they refused to vote until the result sheet comes.
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