By Owen Eresoyen, Benin
It seems that the newly elected Edo deputy governor, Hon Dennis Idahosa, even before his formal inauguration scheduled for November, has charted a new course for himself, a role that is not constitutionally assigned.
Hon Idahosa had on Tuesday to the consternation of observers, was seen directing the affairs of the group of APC Youths who stormed the Edo State INEC office
In a public display, the rowdy APC youths took over the State INEC office and prevented everyone from gaining access to the building
Intermittently chanting war songs, they disrupted normal operations and also posed a significant security threat.
Hon Idahosa was seen taking charge of the “operation INEC storm”, along with the Edo APC youth leader, Mr Tony Kabaka.
The “invaders” justified their actions by claiming to have acted based on intelligence reports suggesting that the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and some PDP leaders had planned to storm the INEC office.
They asserted that their presence was merely a precautionary measure to protect the federal facility.
Hon. Idahosa told reporters at the scene of the blockage that their action was based on intelligence regarding a planned PDP invasion and the need to protect the federal government-owned facility from possible destruction.
In response, the Edo PDP dismissed the APC’s assertion, calling it a “falsehood” and stating that the state PDP was only interested in executing a routine court order in respect of the petition filed by the party’s guber candidate, Barrister Asue Ighodalo, to inspect the sensitive electoral materials ahead of the legal battle to reclaim what it regarded as the “stolen mandate.”
Political pundits are concerned about the public conduct of the Edo APC deputy governor-elect.
They are particularly bemused that a deputy governor would involve himself in safeguarding a federal facility like the INEC office from external invasion.
It is worth noting also that Hon. Idahosa is still a member of the House of Reps and to be seen taking over the statutory functions of security agencies is even more bemusing to political watchers.