Ahead of the Edo State governorship election, some All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders on Tuesday claimed that the action of governor Godwin Obaseki and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lately showed a panic mood in their camp.
The leaders, in a statement, accused Governor Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, of sponsoring campaign of calumny against the governorship candidate of APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
The leaders, who are members of the APC Vanguard, said the PDP, Obaseki and Ighodalo have suddenly become desperate, over fears that they will suffer a humiliating defeat in the upcoming governorship polls.
A group, Network of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, recently held a press conference and also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), among others, over claims that Okpebholo sprayed the naira at a public function.
In a statement signed by the national coordinator of the Vanguard, David Osarobo, the leaders wondered why “desperate Obaseki and his political godson, Ighodalo”, will resort to character assassination in order to score cheap political points.
He said leaders of the civil society were heavily induced to tarnish the image of Okpebholo, whose popularity they said, has hit the roofs since his emergence as the candidate of the APC.
Osarobo said: “Godwin Obaseki, the crisis-ridden PDP and their novice candidate, Ighodalo, have decided to resort to cheap blackmail. They know that they will lose the election and they are jittery.
“They are scouting for fake news and non-existent things to blackmail Okpebholo and lie to Edo people.
“Unfortunately for them, we know what they are up to. They are smelling the defeat already. Edo people have already decided and no amount of State-sponsored intimidation will work.
“In Edo State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led APC administration is working. The Federal Government is reconstructing federal roads in Edo Central, Edo North and Edo South. The APC-led Federal Government is planning to implement other social welfare programmes in Edo State.
“That is why it is imperative for Edo people to take sides with the APC and vote for Okpebholo as the next governor of Edo State.
“There is no going back. We must liberate Edo State from the grip of mini tyrants and economic scavengers who want to use our commonwealth to enrich themselves. Edo State deserves a home-grown solution to the many problems created by Obaseki’s clueless administration.”
Edo guber: Obaseki, Ighodalo, PDP panic over imminent defeat – APC leaders claim