Edo Govt Raises the Alarm over Alleged Plans to Clamp Down on APC Leaders During Elections

Edo state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Louis Odion

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Edo State Government has raised the alarm over alleged plans by the opposition to use security agencies to clampdown on the faithful of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, including members of the state executive council, as part of the desperate moves to cow the people of the state and pave the way for the rigging of the forthcoming election in the state.

In a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Louis Odion, the government said: “We wish to alert the Nigerian public, foreign election observers and lovers of democracy to an evil plot by the presidency to clampdown on APC in a last-ditch attempt to rig the coming general election in Edo State in favour of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“The devilish design consists of a vicious smear campaign against Governor Adams Oshiomhole, in form of newspaper adverts/articles and sponsored television documentary dripping of lies and slander as well as intimidation and detention of APC leaders across the 18 councils in the state on trumped up charges.

“One of such smear campaigns was featured on the national network of NTA yesterday signed by “Edo Political Rebirth Group”, a phantom body, in clear breach of decency and NBC code. We find it curious that whereas decent jingles taken by APC and its supporters to the same NTA are rejected outright, this supposed public trust has been desecrated and parlayed by PDP to slander innocent citizens of Nigeria.

“We are aware that some media organisations, mindful of the laughable and libelous contents, had responsibly rejected the said adverts/documentaries in spite of the huge blood money offered them in dollars.

“We not only condemn this recourse to Nazi tactics by a desperate and - by God’s grace - outgoing PDP government, but wish to reassure that the Comrade Governor remains unshaken in the noble struggle to reclaim Nigeria from a hopelessly incompetent ruling party. Their desperation should be understood.

“In 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan polled more than 90 per cent of the votes in Edo on account of a singular push by Oshiomhole who deployed his persuasive skill to sell Jonathan against his own party’s candidate in the hope that the then trenchant promise of ‘fresh breath’ would redeem the nation.
“Now utterly disillusioned by PDP’s monumental failure, Oshiomhole is convinced the challenge confronting the nation today transcends ethnic solidarity or religious affinity.  To him, it is now a choice between those who want a continuity of insecurity, corruption and deepening poverty and a promise of real change as embodied by APC’s General Muhammadu Buhari.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Comrade Governor calls on APC members to remain calm but resolute against the dirty moves by these anti-democratic forces in the rock-solid conviction that Edo people, like other patriots across the country, are now wiser and will vote for change come March 28 and April 11.”