By Abiola Olawale
The Presidency has strongly refuted the allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s purported desire to use state machinery to manipulate the election and ensure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Edo State governorship election.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, who spoke with the press stated that the allegations from PDP are false.
It would be recalled that the Edo State PDP Chairman, Anthony Aziegbemi, had raised an alarm over an alleged plan by the Federal Government to use the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to favour the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in the September 21 election.
However, Ajayi denied the allegations, clarifying that the NSA and DSS are important security agencies in the country and cannot be used for any undemocratic process.
He said: “There is no truth in such a claim. President Tinubu will not lend his presidency to any illegality or anything that compromises the integrity of our elections. He is an avowed democrat.
“The DSS and NSA work for the security and preservation of the country. Such important institutions can never be used to subvert the electoral process or democracy under any guise.
“What is left of the PDP in Edo State is a carcass that Governor (Godwin) Obaseki is using as his special purpose vehicle.”
