By Afolabi Samuel Odunayo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that there is a smear campaign and frivolous litigations aimed at distracting Asue Ighodalo, its governorship candidate in the upcoming Edo State Governorship election on September 21, 2024.
In a statement signed by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, PDP reaffirmed that Ighodalo is its undisputed candidate, claiming that he is the choice of the majority of the people of Edo State.
The statement also maintained that the party was conscious of some fabrications designed by “certain egocentric and overtly ambitious individuals” to deceive the public.
The party said the purpose of such lies was to “orchestrate a series of coordinated smear campaign against Dr Asue Ighodalo being frustrated by his emergence as candidate, his overwhelming popularity across the State and the fact that he is already coasting to victory in the election.”
The PDP statement reads in part:
“The Party has been made aware of how these angry and bitter individuals have been going around the courts and reportedly attempting to induce certain judicial officers to procure damaging rulings against our candidate.
“It has also come to the knowledge of our Party that these unscrupulous elements have been attempting to compromise the media to publish fabrications against our candidate and campaign.
“Our Party have it on good authority that the intent of these individuals who have been holding clandestine meetings in locations in Abuja and Benin City is to cause crisis and derail the democratic process leading to the Edo State governorship election.
“Information available shows that these politicians are behind the erroneous report that our Party’s Governorship Primary in Edo State was nullified by the Court when the Court indeed did not issue any Order to that effect.
“These individuals have been going about brazenly boasting that they have the connection and capacity to compromise the courts.”
The party warned that concerned authorities such as the Judiciary, the Media and Security Agencies should be wary of the shenanigans displayed by those he called contemptuous elements.
While emphasising that such individuals pose danger to the survival of democracy in our country, the PDP pointed out clearly that it remains undeterred “by the mischiefs of these failed individuals as their schemes against Dr. Asue Ighodalo and the people of Edo State have come to naught having already been exposed.”
According to the leaders of the PDP, Ighodalo “continues to enjoy the solidarity and support of the overwhelming majority of the people of Edo State; he remains focused on his issue-based campaign and will not be distracted from his vision and agenda of moving Edo State to another level of prosperity and development on the platform the PDP.”
The PDP called on the people of Edo State to remain alert and resolute in their determination to ensure that the party comes top at the elections.
It would be recalled that the battle for the governorship seat of Edo state has been very fierce with the political combatants throwing allegations counter allegations against one another.
