- APC: Gov Obaseki Planning To Obtain N1.5bn Loan For Vote-buying
- PDP To APC: You Are Telling Lies…’No Iota Of Truth In The Claim’
By Gbenga Abulude( The New Diplomat’s Politics and General desk)
With few days to the September 19 governorship election in Edo state, the two leading political parties- Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the All Progressives Congress(APC) have again returned to the trenches, engaging fiercely in war of words over a purported loan request of N1.5Bn.
While the Edo State chapter of the Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused Governor Obaseki of planning to a secure a whooping N1.5bn loan from bank to allegedly buy votes during the Edo governorship election slated for September 19, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) fired back at the APC, accusing the later of being deceitful and economical with the truth.
Read also: Edo 2020: Tinubu, PDP In Fierce War Of Words
The APC had also alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council led by Governor Nyesom Wike was perfecting plans to relocate temporarily to Benin to fine tune strategies for vote buying.
In a statement signed by Chairman, Media Sub-Committee of the APC campaign council, Mr John Mayaki, the APC alleged that Governor Obaseki, working in cohort with a faction of the State Assembly is set to borrow N1.5bn from a commercial bank purportedly for this purpose.
The APC statement alleged among other things: “After depleting the treasury of Edo State with his constant illegal withdrawals, most notably the N15bn payment to the PDP leadership of tax-collectors for his re-election ticket on the platform of the divided party, the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki is now finalising plans to obtain a N1.5bn loan from a commercial bank for the sole purpose of vote-buying on the 19th of September.
“Also Mr. Nyesom Wike, who desperately wants his newly-acquired stooge to remain at the helm for another four years so he can serve him well in a mulled ambition further down the road, has directed that other PDP governors commit more funds to a designed vote-buying plot and relocate temporarily to Benin City to monitor the disbursement of the funds and execution of the illegal plan.”
Read also: Edo 2020: Eschew Violence, Join Us On Issue-Based Campaign, APC Tells PDP, Obaseki
But in a swift reaction to the allegations, the Edo state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Chris Nehikhare did not only debunk the claims by the APC but also accused the APC of being deceitful. Nehikhare said, “There is no iota of truth in this claim. How do you buy votes? We have never undertaken such an enterprise and have always relied on our popularity and the people of Edo State for support to win elections.”
The PDP further faulted the APC thus: “The PDP National Campaign Council from inception of the campaign has always said they will give logistic and moral support to the party in Edo State for this election. It is not a crime for like-minded governors to support one of their own.”
Recall that both the PDP and APC have been enmeshed in intense battle for the soul of Edo state with the two leading political parties allegedly throwing political restrain and ethical issues overboard.
The intensity and velocity of the war of attrition led to crisis and counter crisis in Edo state, culminating in an all inclusive stakeholders peace meeting convened by the most respected and highly revered Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II at his Palace.
The meeting which was attended by key political actors in the upcoming polls including the Edo State Governor, Mr Obaseki, his rival Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, elder statesman, and former governor of Edo state, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, immediate past Edo state governor and past national chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, among others reportedly agreed to a peaceful electioneering campaign.
