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Two of the three senators from Edo State, Senators Clifford Ordia, PDP, Edo Central and Senator Francis Alimikhena, APC, Edo North have clashed over the forthcoming governorship election with each senator affirming the electoral superiority of his party over the other. •Alimikhena: APC …•Ordia: PDP While Senator Ordia, affirmed that the APC had no chance in his constituency and was scared into working out a postponement, Senator Francis Alimikhena on his part dismissed the claim with his assertion that Edo remained an APC state. “In my Senatorial District, APC has no chance. We have put everything in place to checkmate plans by APC to rig. We will resist it. We know that the APC is desperate, and they are doing everything to frustrate voters, but it will not work” Ordia told Vanguard. “The APC knew they were going to lose the election, and they decided to shift the election. Even if they want to shift it by another one year, PDP will still win. APC has no chance in Edo state. Edo is a PDP state, and we will prove that during the election. “I want to also call on INEC and security agencies. They must maintain neutrality during the election. They should not allow themselves to be used. They must know ensure that voters are not harassed or beaten up. “I want to equally caution security agencies not to be used too to snatch ballot boxes. I am making this call because we have seen or heard cases in the past where security agencies reportedly connived with INEC officials to deny Nigerians their voting rights.” Senator Alimikhena on his part dismissed the claims by PDP that APC is afraid saying: “That is the propaganda of the PDP that was already down before the postponement. I have told you that Edo State is APC. We were one hundred and one percent ready for the election. It was the report of the DSS and the Police that said security was not favourable for the election. “You will understand that immediately after the postponement, some thugs of PDP were arrested and some are still being investigated. We were ready for it; it was not the fault of the APC. APC did not beg for postponement; it was the security report that led to the postponement.” On allegations that the APC was scared of Ize- Iyamu having worked with Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the past, Senator Alimikhena said, “ No, that he worked with the governor of the state before doesn’t mean that people are following him. We are talking to the people, and I can tell you that his followers are for the APC. That he worked with him doesn’t mean anything, because the election is one man, one vote and he is the only person that left the APC, the remaining people didn’t follow him. The majority of such people are still in the APC. What does he even want? The people have already said that it is APC they want.” The third senator from the state, Senator Matthew Urhoghide representing Edo South who belongs to the PDP was not available in Abuja for an interview as he has since relocated to Edo State, being the director-general of the Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation.

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