Edo election; Wike breaks silence, reveals why Obaseki defeated Ize-Iyamu

Barely one week after the conduct of the Edo governorship election, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has revealed why Governor Godwin Obaseki defeated the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osagie Ize-Iyamu, at the poll.

Speaking on the Channel TV's flagship programme, Sunrise Daily, on Friday, September 25, Wike said that Obaseki won the election because the federal government was not allowed to rig the election, saying that all forms of intimidations by the APC were rebuffed by the people of Edo state.

It was gathered that the governor, who was the chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign committee for the election, noted that the visa ban slammed by the US and the UK on the election riggers during the last Kogi state governorship election did wonder in the Edo poll.

"It is very key-" Governor Wike is also attributing the success of the Edo Governorship poll to the visa ban on election riggers by the US. #CTVlivetweets#Sunrisedaily pic.twitter.com/Fvxi2Cf0i3

— Channels Television (@channelstv) September 25, 2020

He said the fear of being banned from entering the US and the UK debarred members of the APC from carrying out their planned rigging and manipulation of the electoral process on Saturday, September 19.

Governor Wike said: "The US and the UK came out and said, look, there will be a visa ban if anybody tries anything in terms of violence or in terms of rigging and because some of them have been banned everybody was being careful.

"Look, I don't want to have a problem, I don't want my wife to have problems and I don't want my children to have problems. We want to go to the UK, we want to go to the US. This played a significant role in the Edo election.

"I believe that if the EU gives us support, you will see a change in our electoral process. I mean, who wants his family to be banned? They should even go further to put ban not only on the politicians but also the security agencies, then, everybody will sit up and say I cannot jeopardise the future of my children and siblings simply because you want me to help you to rig and win the election."

Governor Wike hails Edo people for not allowing the Governorship election to be compromised. #CTVlivetweets#Sunrisedaily pic.twitter.com/AMcEInsJzD

— Channels Television (@channelstv) September 25, 2020

Wike also hailed the people of Edo state for not allowing the governorship election to be compromised, adding that the plan of the APC was to win the election at all costs.

He added:

"APC did everything to win the election but of course the people say no. You could try everything you know but when people say no, you can's achieve that. It is the people that determine who wins the election."