By Abiola Olawale
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has criticized erstwhile National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for purportedly lampooning its Edo State Governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
The party said the former governor of Edo State and current Senator representing Edo Norrh in the Senate was “attempting to confuse the people of Edo State with claims of a non-existent Court Judgement against its Party candidate.”
This was contained in a press statement released by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba.
The statement reads in part: “Nigerians watched with utter dismay as Adams Oshiomhole struggled to convey a false narrative laden with fabrications and barefaced lies on national TV in a desperate but failed effort to detract from the overwhelming popularity and support of the majority of Edo State citizens across party lines for Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
“Oshiomhole’s demeanour on TV when he was confronted with the truth by the anchors was, to say the least, pitiable, as he stammered and could not provide any judgment against the candidature of Asue Ighodalo.
“Comrade Oshiomhole’s utterances on TV today are consistent with his antecedent of purveying …smear campaign and embellishment against individuals and groups that he feels threatened about, as evident in his unprintable assault against the person of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu during the 2016 Edo State governorship election campaign.
“Nigerians can remember how Comrade Oshiomhole brazenly and at various times described Pastor Ize-Iyamu as an impostor, a fake pastor, rusticated student, a career dropout, acid bath assailant, liar, cultist, treasury looter; a non-performer, an incompetent and questionable character, who is only good for night meetings and not fit to be the governor of Edo State, only for him to turn around during the 2020 Edo State governorship election campaign to recant all that he said against Pastor Ize-Iyamu in 2016.”
He continued: “Happily, Edo State people already know his stock-in-trade and therefore place no value or premium on whatever comes out of his mouth….
“Comrade Oshiomhole is an individual reportedly associated with recklessness, causing confusion, quarrelling and disagreements which marked his tenure and led to his unceremonious removal as the National Chairman of the APC.
“Instead of trying to peddle falsehood against the candidature and person of Dr Asue Ighodalo, he should have used the opportunity of the TV appearance to address the allegations in the public domain…
“Comrade Oshiomhole displayed a ludicrous ignorance by his false assertion that the process leading to the emergence of Dr Asue Ighodalo as PDP governorship candidate was manipulated; a process that was adjudged to be free, fair, credible; in compliance with the Constitution and Governorship Electoral Guideline of the PDP, the Electoral Act, 2022 and upheld by the Court…
“Rather than whining, Comrade Oshiomhole and the APC should contend with their unsellable and uninspiring candidate, who has consistently refused to engage the people of Edo State as he has no substance to deliver or provide to them.”