Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has stoked controversy ahead of the September 21 governorship election, labelling the contest a “do-or-die” affair and warning against any attempts to rig the vote. His remarks came as the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ilia Damagun, echoed his sentiments, pledging that party members would defend their votes “with blood” if necessary.
The heated rhetoric unfolded at the grand finale of the PDP’s campaign in Benin, where Obaseki, Damagun, and 12 PDP governors rallied in support of their candidate, Asue Ighodalo. Addressing the crowd, Obaseki described the election as an existential fight, stating, “This election is do or die. If they do, we will die.” The PDP has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to incite violence and engage in vote-buying to sway the outcome.
Damagun intensified the stakes, accusing the APC of plotting to win through intimidation, but vowed that such efforts would be fiercely resisted. “You have to kill or arrest all of us if you want to take this state,” he declared, warning that the PDP would not tolerate a late-night announcement of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
As the battle for Edo State intensifies, both parties are under scrutiny for their increasingly combative language, raising concerns about the potential for violence in what has been described as a critical test for Nigeria’s democracy.
