Edo poll: Residents besiege markets, fuel stations, others
Ahead of the governorship election taking place across Edo State on Saturday, some residents of the state besieged various markets early Friday to make last-minute shopping to beat Saturday’s restriction of movement orders.
Apart from the markets, various motor parks bubbled with heavy activities as commuters were seen travelling to their various destinations where they would cast their votes.
Our correspondent who visited the Ekpoma market at Alli Square and its environs in Esan West Local Government Area of the state, on Friday, observed heavy security presence with security vehicles as motorists were also seen making last-minute purchases at some petrol stations to avoid being stranded.
There were long queues of vehicles at the various petrol stations visited in the metropolis, including those buying PMS in Jerry cans.
Customers also besieged various Automated Teller Machine and POS points to withdraw cash to make purchases and get ready for the day. This is just as the environment remained calm and peaceful and everybody going about their normal business.
Also at the Irrua Market in Esan Central LGA, both buyers and sellers were seen in large numbers engaging in one transaction or another in items such as food commodities, glossaries and other sundry materials.
Similarly, most hotels visited in the communities were already fully booked by various people including party supporters and voters a lot of people who had gone to book accommodation at these hotels ahead of tomorrow’s election were seen stranded and disappointed when they were told that there were no more rooms available.
At the various hotels, there was a heavy security presence of men of the DSS and the police team in Edo.
Esan West and Esan Central LGAs are located in Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State, which has five LGAs, comprising also of Esan South-East, Igueben and Esan North East.
The district is where the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Monday Okpebholo.
A manager at one of the hotels in the area, Resort Continental, Mr Martin Ovedje, said, “As you can see there are no more rooms at this hotel. All the rooms were fully booked by Thursday. All the people coming to request rooms were turned back.
“The reason is due to tomorrow’s election, even security presence has increased at the premises because of the various signatories and party faithful that are lodging here. Some of them came with their personal security and bodyguards.”
Some of the residents who spoke to our correspondent in separate interviews, expressed satisfaction and optimism at the calm atmosphere while urging for peace in Saturday’s election.
A trader at Irrua Market, identified as Victory Shokeme, said, “My brother, today has been a heavy day for commercial activities. We are happy that everywhere is calm and peaceful ahead of tomorrow’s election. And we hope to see a peaceful process tomorrow, and give or take, by Monday, we should be knowing our next governor.
Another resident, a civil servant, Mercy Malik, said, “I used the opportunity of today’s work-free day to make some purchases ahead of tomorrow. We hope to see a free, fair and credible process that will throw up the candidate of the people’s choice.
“We only pray people are allowed to exercise their franchise without any molestation. We can observe heavy security presence today, security should also be beefed up around the polling units to forestall any breakdown of law and order.”
Another resident of the area, Chris Ejokpaogu, said, “I travelled all the down from Benin to Uromi today so that I will be able to vote tomorrow. This was where I registered for my PVC. However, on getting here, I found out that I forgot my PVC at Benin, I had to send my daughter to waybill it to me through one of the buses coming down to Uromi.
“I expect to see a free, fair and credible election tomorrow. INEC should ensure that everything works perfectly well tomorrow and the people should be allowed to exercise their franchise tomorrow. A lot of people are willing to come out and cast their votes and we are hoping that it would be a hitch-free exercise and by Monday, we should know our next governor.”
