Protesters storm Edo Govt House over council poll

Supporters of  aggrieved Action Congress of Nigeria chairmanship aspirants from Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state stormed the Edo Government House on Monday to protest against alleged imposition of some candidates for the local government election in the state coming up in April.
The protesters, who gathered at the entrance into the Government House as early as 8.30am, engaged themselves in a shouting match that almost snowballed into a brawl, even in the presence of security operatives attached to the Government House.
While a faction, led by a member representing Ikpoba-Okha on the board of Edo State Oil Producing Areas Commission, Victor Ekhator, called for the return of one Mrs. Itohan Osahon-Ogbeide, as LG chairman, ACN youth leader, Ernest Amadasun, accused former Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Osarodion Ogie, of imposition.
Meanwhile, former Peoples Democratic Party chairman of Owan West Local Government Area, Dan Asekhame, has urged members of the party in the state to join hands in ensuring victory for the party in the forthcoming April 20 council poll.
Asekhame called on Edo PDP members to join hands with their national leader, Chief Tony Anenih, to rebuild the party, saying PDP would benefit from what he described as the brewing crisis in the ruling ACN.
He said, “It is sad that a party that is preaching one man one vote is today imposing candidates in all the local governments. That is why I want to encourage our chairmanship candidates and members of our party to put in everything possible in this coming local government election. The problem the PDP had in the state before now was what we can describe as political wreckage, because there are too many people on board.
“PDP stands a chance of winning many councils because of the crisis in the ACN today. Our candidates should disregard the fears that the ACN may manipulate the process because this is a local election; only popular candidates would be accepted by the people.”
Ekhator, who led the pro-Osahon-Ogbeide camp, said they were at the Government House to show solidarity with the party in the choice of their leaders.
He said, “We are here not to fight anybody; we came when we heard that some people from Ikpoba-Okha are planning to disrupt activities. We are surprised that they are saying that a woman cannot be chairman in Ikpoba-Okha. We are ready to stand with the woman till the end.”