The Edo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of incapable of leading an issue-based campaign towards the September 21 governorship election because it has begun to hound opposition parties in the state.

A statement by the Media and Publicity Directorate of the APC Campaign Organisation in Benin City countered the claims of the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, who promised to lead an issue-based campaign. The APC said, “a party whose leader is Mr. Godwin Obaseki with the paraphernalia of government should be told to allow opposition parties to breathe instead of hounding them - the most recent incident being the attack that occurred at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) where the Labour Party candidate and its members were attacked”.

According to the statement, “Governor Obaseki is not known to tolerate opposition and as such his candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo cannot promise issue-based campaigns”, adding that Nigerians must hold the PDP, Governor Obaseki, and his candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, accountable for any chaos, acts of thuggery, and any form of intimidation, harassment, and attack on opponents during this electioneering season.

“Edo people are well aware of the desperation of the outgoing governor to install his ‘puppet’ into office and as such would go all out to haunt the opposition, intimidate them with his quasi-state police and official thugs. Obaseki is not a known democrat and he’s proud of that. This is further evidenced by his candidate’s distancing himself from the Governor in the public glare, but they cannot fool the people because we know they meet at night to harmonise and compare notes.

“A governor who installed a known thug, who is also the state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), as the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in order to deploy him to achieve his dastardly political goals cannot claim to be leading an issue-based campaign. At least, not the man who derives joy from demolishing the houses and businesses of his political opponents.

“The challenge for his candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, in this electioneering season is how he would successfully detach himself from his ‘dictator’ godfather, whom Edo people are in a hurry to teach the political lessons of his life. Although Mr. Asue has succeeded in presenting himself to the public as a stand-alone candidate without Obaseki, the truth of the matter is that it’s either Asue is not proud of Obaseki or it’s a ploy by both Asue and Obaseki to deceive the people into a third tenure through Asue, the face of the yearly “Alaghodaro” event that was used to siphon state resources without meaningful gains.

“For us in the APC and Senator Monday Okpebholo and Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa Campaign Organisation, we will focus on the goal, especially in addressing the challenges facing our people. We will focus on how to salvage the state. And we will personally engage the candidates from other political parties to urge them to do the same.

“In this election, we urge voters to elect us based on our policies, programs, and projects of our candidates - both Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo and Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa. By the grace of God, our campaigns will be devoid of divisiveness, destructiveness, and disruptiveness,” the APC assured.