#EdoElection: No police aides for Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu, Oshiomhole

Mohammed Adamu, Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, has barred security aides from accompanying VIPs and political appointees during the Sept. 19 governorship election in Edo, TopNaija can confirm.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba announced this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. He said the I-G had warned that anyone who flouted the order would be severely reprimanded.

The directive means that Governor Godwin Obaseki, former APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, APC candidate Osagie Ize-Iyamu and other political actors, are expected to walk to their polling stations alone.

Mba said the IGP had also deployed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Research and Planning, Mr Adeleye Oyebade to supervise the general security arrangement for the election.

The last Edo State gubernatorial election was held on 28 September, 2016 to determine the Governor of Edo State. The election was originally scheduled for 10 September, however two days before, on 8 September it was postponed due to security concerns.

Meanwhile, the candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) in the Edo State governorship elections, Igbineweka Osamuede, has promised to revamp the healthcare system in the state if he is elected governor.

At a governorship debate hosted by Channels Television in Edo State on Friday, Osamuede said under his administration, he would ensure that residents don’t have to leave the state for their healthcare needs.

“With my government, the problems in healthcare will be a thing of the past. I don’t think anybody will leave Edo State to go outside the country for any treatment,” he said.

Speaking further, Osamuede said he will look into the establishment of technical schools, grant loans for small scale businesses and explore the cultural heritage of the Edo people.

However, to deliver those projects, the AMP candidate said the state needs to generate more money. According to him, the previous governments have borrowed so much money, now leaving the state in debt.