Friends of Dennis Idahosa, the running mate to the APC governorship candidate, and Ovia Youths on Thursday engaged in a novelty match to mobilise support ahead of the Saturday election in Edo State.

The match was decided at the public field of Igobazuwa in tbe Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state.

Idahosa’s friends popularly known as “Friends of Denco” defeated the Ovia youths by a lone in the highly entertaining match, played amidst funfair and mild downpour.

The encounter witnessed a large turn out of the youth in the area.

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Idahosa, who is representing Ovia constituency at the House of Representatives expressed gratitude to the organisers and the participants for the solidarity support.

“I’m thrilled by this show of love and support from my friends and constituents.

“This novelty match demonstrates our unity and commitment to the APC’s vision for Edo,” said Idahosa, who was represented by Eghosa Omomo.

At the end of the match, a trophy was represented to the victorious side as well as laurel to valuable players of the match.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has issued a strong warning to the Independent Electoral Commission against glitches or hitches that could lead to rigging in the upcoming governorship election on September 21.

Obi made this statement during the grand finale of the party’s campaign in Benin, where he expressed his full support for the Labour Party’s flag bearer, Olumide Akpata.

He said, “We don’t want excuses again, we are tired of excuses. Let me use this (opportunity) to warn INEC. They said they would use BVAS and iRev. No glitches, no hitches. We want this election to be free and fair.

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“We are not looking for anybody’s vote. Time of rigging must come to an end in this country; time of rigging is coming to an end in this country. We are coming to a time where anybody that rigs an election we will rig him.

“We cannot continue that way, that’s what Labour Party wants to change and that change is what we are preaching – Olu Akpata, he’s not just our guy, he’s our governor.”

This he said, in reference to the alleged glitch that the Independent National Electoral Commission encountered during the 2023 general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Thursday morning, began the distribution of sensitive materials to the 18 local government areas in Edo State.

The distribution is being done on the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria at Akpakpava junction, located at Ring Road, Benin.

The hired vehicles that will convey the materials to various locations are already stationed beside the CBN.

The area was closed to commercial activities as buses plied one way to enter and exit the area. Journalists from both print and electronic media besieged the venue to capture the moment.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Onuoha Anugbum, supervised the distribution of the material.

He confirmed the development to journalists inside the Central Bank before the commencement of the distribution of materials.

He said, “Yes, we are here, we have commenced the distribution of sensitive materials to the local government area.”

Party officials were also at the venue to monitor the distribution process.

Despite the early morning drizzle, the distribution team moved under the canopy set up for other stakeholders to continue the process.