The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) on Sunday made a weighty allegation as it claimed that leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have gone ahead to print Permanent Voters Cards, (PVCs) few weeks to the September 19th governorship poll in Edo.
The party claimed that the massive printing of PVCs is being carried out in the homes and offices of some APC leaders in the state.
Though the PDP could not mention the location and names of the APC leaders involved in the action as alleged, it said security operatives have been alerted on the purported development.
Addressing a press conference at the PDP campaign Secretariat in Benin City, Edo state capital, the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Nehikhare also alleged that the APC is heating up the political climate in the state with the aim of having the elections postponed, a claim the APC has denied.
Reacting to the allegations, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Edo, Mr. Chris Azebamwan, described the allegation as a mark of ignorance on the path of the party, noting that PDP’s claim is an attempt to distract Edo people in order to rig the election.
While making its allegation, the PDP said: “We need to alert the general public that we are aware of the criminal printing of PVC’s by APC in some of it offices here in Edo state. I am saying this not because we are worried that they can use it for elections but because of the criminal aspect of it and the security agencies have been alerted but unfortunately, they are not doing anything about it”.
“We told them the address where this is taking place and the people doing it but nobody have been arrested and that is why we are raising this alarm. They have discovered that they cannot win a free and fair election and they are trying all manners of ways to subvert the will of Edo people. Their intention is to have the election postponed because they know they will be defeated.
“However, we are confident of winning because of the performance of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
APC’s Azebamwan fired back, saying: “It is a mark of ignorance for PDP’s Chris Nehikhare to accuse leaders of APC of criminally printing PVCs. Any politician who does that will be wasting his/her time and money, because INEC’s card readers will reject the fake PVCs.
“PDP leaders are trying to distract and deceive Edo people and other Nigerians about their plot to rig the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, but it will be an exercise in futility. Edo residents and other Nigerians should ignore the antics, propaganda, misinformation and disinformation of Chris Nehikhare and other members of PDP.
“PDP leaders want the election to be postponed, because the party is not on the ground in Edo State. They know that APC’s governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is very popular, with huge followership across the 18 LGAs of the state and he will win the September 19, 2020 election with a wide margin, with Godwin Obaseki to experience humiliating defeat.
“So, PDP leaders are preparing the ground for their eventual defeat, in order to be able to accuse APC leaders of rigging the election. No truth or merit in the senseless allegation. Do not forget that PDP’s thugs were responsible for the July 25 gunshots at the palace of Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, and last Thursday’s shootings at Apana in Etsako West LGA of Edo State, but they attempted to blame APC members, in order to cause confusion”.
In a related development, The New Diplomat reports that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, on Sunday ordered Commissioners of Police in states to identify individuals and groups in possession of prohibited firearms as the force embarks on a mop up of ammunitions within the larger society.
The directive follows attempts by some politicians to arm thugs and the increasing violence in Edo and Ondo where off-season elections are due to hold in September and October respectively.
