- APC: “Obaseki Is Plotting To Rig Election For Ighodalo”
- PDP: ” It’s a Lie. APC, Okpebholo Already Afraid because Ighodalo Is Popular.”
By Abiola Olawale
As the forthcoming governorship election of Edo State is fast approaching, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have continued to engage in a heated war of words.
This is as the Edo State Chapter of the APC and its governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State of allegedly plotting to use the state-owned Security Network, to rig the election in favour of the PDP’s governorship candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo.
This allegation was contained in a statement issued by the Media Director of the Edo APC Campaign Council, Prince Kassim Afegbua.
Afegbua alleged that the ESN was set up by the Edo State government as a decoy to purportedly subvert the will of the Edo people before, during and after the governorship election.
Afegbua also claimed that an 11,000-strong armed group of young men is being allegedly sponsored by PDP to mobilize and garner support inappropriately for the PDP during the election.
The statement reads in part: “In three of such disclosures in one of their WhatsApp groups, the government’s evil plans to violently rig the election were busted.
“One of the voice notes directed members to hide their arms and ammunition for fear of arrest, while another stated that in the event of any arrest, there should be resistance.
“Yet, another indicated that should they mount roadblocks or stop-and-search operations, they should ensure that not less than five personnel are involved.”
However, in a swift response, the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council of the PDP faulted the statement of Afegbua.
The campaign council declared that Ighodalo does not require surreptitious means to win the forthcoming September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election.
According to the deputy director general, media of the campaign management council, Olu Martins, Edo people are intelligent and observant enough to know a thoroughbred candidate.
Martins said: “Dr Asue Ighodalo does not need any introduction to the Nigerian people especially Nigerians who appreciate hard work and ingenuity (attributes that are strange to the APC).
“It seems the APC is already developing cold feet for the coming elections billed for next month. I read a rather boring write-up that reeks of a worn-out methodology that plans were underway by the State Government to rig the election for our candidate, the very ebullient and cerebral Dr Asue Ighodalo.
“Knowing APC for its well-developed penchant for lies and falsehood, it would not have been necessary to respond to Kassim Afegbua’s anachronistic style of campaign of calumny, but for those who may not know Kassim Afegbua, it is necessary to put the record straight.
“Dr Asue Ighodalo is the candidate of the PDP who has transversed the length and breadth of Edo State while espousing the most brilliant and lofty ideas of governance and leadership. These ideas continue to resonate with the three Senatorial Districts of Edo South, Edo Central and Edo North.
“Dr Asue Ighodalo has been the most intellectually engaging candidate in the race to Osadebey avenue as his media and live engagements continue to stimulate the minds and consciences of the Edo voting population.”
The New Diplomat reports that Okpebholo and Ighodalo are among the 17 governorship candidates battling for the governorship seat of Edo state.
The governorship election has been slated for September 21, 2024, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
