Ize-iyanmu to lead protest against inec result in Edo election

BENIN - Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the just concluded Edo State governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will on Friday, formally lead the street protests against the declaration by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of the All Progressive Party, APC, candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as the winner of the September 28, 2016 election.

It will be recalled that party loyalists and supporters including civil society groups, students, workers, traders, artisans, coordinated by the Centre for Patriotic Leadership Initiative, CPLI, a leadership and rights advocacy group, have been protesting the results in Benin City.

CPLI Coodinator , Mr Saint Eronmosele, said in Benin, yesterday, that the protest was one of 100 protests tagged "Mother of the Series of Protests" and will have speakers such as state PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, Pastor Ize - Iyamu and many others.

He said that the protests against impunity, perpetration of illegality and massive electoral fraud by INEC, APC, security operatives and Governor Adams Oshiomhole who he said, "colluded to steal and subvert the people's mandate freely given to PDP candidate, Ize-Iyamu.

"We have the permission of the law to protest against perceived wrongs because where there is a wrong, there has to be a remedy. We shall take to the streets for 100 days until the stolen mandate is restored."

He urged all to dress in black because, "We are mourning the death of democracy, justice and fairness in Edo State.

"On that day, all Edo people, even APC, are all invited to throng the streets in a massive protest across Edo State as we are saying enough is enough to impunity and illegality."

On insinuations that the Nigeria Police Force recently announced a ban on streets protests in the state, he said, "Defy the police order, defy APC thugs, defy everyone who wants to silence your voice or darken your conscience. Stand for what is right and be counted. Take a place on the right side of history.

"These protests are not about Ize-Iyamu. No. The protests are about you and I, our future, our hope. If they succeeded against Ize-Iyamu, it means that tomorrow when you and I also stand for election based on our track record or popularity, that someone somewhere would also deprive us of victory."