The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the state PDP as a dead party noting that an allegation by the party that it is planning to use N150 million from the Niger Delta Development Commission to rig the coming local government election is not only baseless but spurious.
In a statement by the party’s assistant state publicity secretary, Victor Osehobo, the APC said the PDP in the state is on a life support that should not be taken seriously with their unfounded allegations.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State, is ashamed over the spurious allegations made by the beleaguered factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi, regarding a plot to rig and buy votes in the upcoming local government elections using N150 million from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“These allegations are baseless and unfounded, but coming from a decapitated body, it is understandable. The Edo PDP is on life support. Nevertheless, the Edo APC is committed to a free and fair election process and we believe in the power of our people to choose the next crop of local government leaders without any external interference or manipulation. But this is a far cry with the junta in Edo.
“Furthermore, the factional PDP chairman’s statement regarding the use of NDDC funds is misleading and lacking in evidence. The NDDC operates independently and has its own budget and priorities. Any insinuation that the NDDC funds will be used for illegitimate purposes is a blatant attempt to tarnish the reputation of the commission and the APC. But Mr Aziegbemi cannot understand this.
“We also find it ironic that the Edo PDP which leader, for want of a better label, Governor Godwin Obaseki, has already written the results of the elections with PDP candidates as chairmen/councilors across the 18 local government areas is the party raising concerns.
“As a party of losers, the PDP has shamelessly gone round the state in a charade with its leader, the governor, parading projects and programmes that have suffered stillbirth since he took office.
“For the records, the Edo APC call on the PDP to retract its wild allegations. We believe that Edo people should have the opportunity to choose their leaders based on merit and cannot be swayed by false information and baseless accusations from a losers party like the PDP,” the APC said.