Press Statement
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has exposed plots by the sinking All
Progressives Congress (APC) to use the trio of Governors Abdullahi
Ganduje of Kano State, Hope Uzodinma of Imo state and Yahaya Bello of
Kogi State to derail the September 19 Edo State governorship election.
The PDP and indeed the people of Edo state are already aware that the
trio were selected by the APC to lead its campaign so as to force a
combined formula of Kano and Kogi electoral violence as well as Imo
state mandate robbery to subvert the will of the people of Edo state in
the governorship election.
The PDP described as pathetic that the APC only has a person who has
become a butt of international shame after being seen in a viral video
stuffing his robe with gratification, in foreign currency, to serve as
Chairman of its Edo state governorship campaign council.
It is equally contemptuous that such a person is being deputized by
another individual, who has become a metaphor of electoral manipulation,
after being so docketed by a judgment of the Supreme Court.
It is also disgusting that a governor who deployed a Police helicopter
to scare voters on election day has been mandated to deploy thugs and
dangerous weapons through the northern borderlines of Edo State ahead of
the election.
Part of APC’s plot is to import election mercenaries as observers to
attempt to scare the people of Edo state, suppress them and steal their
mandate.
It is however not surprising that such is the drift of the APC campaign,
given that it has neither messages nor plans for the people of Edo
state, especially, with a candidate like Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who has also
been declared by his former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, as
a person of questionable character, a fake pastor, treasury looter,
rusticated student who is only fit for “night meetings” and should never
be entrusted with the office of the governor of Edo state.
Whereas our candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki, enjoys the overwhelming
support of the Edo people due to his enthusing track record of personal
character and performance in office for which even APC leaders have
praises for him, the APC candidate has nothing to present to the people.
With its defective nomination process, an ailing campaign council and a
dented governorship candidate, it is clear that the APC is not preparing
for issue-based and people oriented campaign, but for process
manipulation and ballot robbery.
Our party, in the strongest terms, cautions the APC to note that the
“Gandollar,” “Supreme Court Governor” and “helicopter shooting” formulas
cannot work in this election as the people of Edo state have never been
intimidated, suppressed, subjugated or overpowered by external political
influences.
The APC should also note that the people of Edo state will spare nothing
within the law in firmly resisting any attempt by anybody to import
violence or try to manipulate the Edo election in any way.
With the people of Edo state on the side of Governor Obaseki and the
PDP, the coast is already clear and any attempt by anybody to subvert
the will of the people will surely be met very stiff resistance.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
