The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr Pius Odubu has denied media reports linking his convoy to the distribution of election materials during last Saturday’s Local Government election in the state.
In a statement his Press Secretary, Mr Kelly Odaro, said: “the attention of Edo State Deputy Governor Dr. Pius Odubu has been drawn to an erroneous report used by a section of the media after last Saturday’s council election in the State.
“The Deputy Governor was reported to have said that his vehicle conveying electoral materials was waylaid and vandalized by hoodlums suspected to be opposition party members in the ward headquarters.
“To set the records straight, the State Deputy governor, Dr. Odubu merely mentioned in the course of the interview, that the bus assigned to escort the vehicle conveying electoral materials to Urhonigbe North in Orhionwon Local Government Area to avert diversion was attacked and vandalized by miscreants whose intent was to cart away the materials for rigging purpose. And indeed, electoral materials meant for two booths were destroyed by hoodlums despite the security measures taken.
“It is pertinent to stress that Deputy Governor is not the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) Chairman whose duty it is to provide the necessary logistics for movement of electoral materials.
“For emphasis, what the Deputy Governor did was to assign some party agents to escort the vehicle bearing the electoral materials to the polling units. And the said vehicle was attacked on the way to the units ostensibly to cart away the materials for rigging.
“The Deputy Governor, therefore, considers it absurd and mischievous for anyone to suggest or conclude that his personal vehicle was used for conveying election materials.
“Security agencies are already on the trail of the hoodlums who vandalized the vehicle and destroyed the election materials.”
