Edo Election: Residents Worry as Security Personnel Flood Streets

As the Edo election approaches, residents express concern over the heavy deployment of security personnel across the state, raising fears about safety.

Benin residents have expressed worry over the heavy presence of security personnel in the city ahead of the Saturday governorship election.

An Edo Today correspondent, who toured various parts of Benin City late Friday, September 20, 2024, to assess the mood ahead of the governorship election, reported that many residents expressed discomfort and concern over the heavy security presence.

According to the report gathered, the recent development might scare people away from going out to vote on Saturday.

Madam Etinosa, a market woman, told an EdoToday correspondent that she had advised all her sons not to go out to vote on election day due to fear for their safety.

Etinosa, who spoke in  Edo language, said that she has lost a relative to an election crisis before, and doesn’t wish to experience it again. She also added that with the Trending Videos of PDP claiming that their Supporters are been harassed by the Police, it will be hard for them to believe that the election would be peaceful.

Similarly, Mr. Efosa  Igie, a resident, said the number of security personnel deployed for the Edo election was shocking.

“Truth be told, there may be voter apathy tomorrow because, with the presence of this number of security personnel, nobody will want to risk coming out and being manhandled.