Edo Governorship: APC Leaders Allege Panic Among Obaseki, Ighodalo, and PDP Over Expected Loss

Before the Edo State governorship election, certain leaders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) asserted on Tuesday that recent actions by Governor Godwin Obaseki and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) indicated a sense of panic within their ranks.

In a statement, these leaders accused Governor Obaseki, the PDP, and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, of orchestrating a smear campaign against the APC gubernatorial candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

Members of the APC Vanguard, the group behind the statement, expressed concern over what they perceived as desperate tactics from the PDP and its allies, fueled by the fear of a looming defeat in the upcoming election.

The Network of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria recently convened a press conference and lodged a petition with various agencies, alleging that Okpebholo had thrown naira notes at a public event.

David Osarobo, the national coordinator of the Vanguard, questioned the motives behind the alleged character assassination attempts, emphasizing Okpebholo’s growing popularity since becoming the APC candidate.

Osarobo denounced what he described as baseless attempts to tarnish Okpebholo’s reputation, attributing it to the apprehension felt by Obaseki, Ighodalo, and their supporters in the face of impending defeat.

Asserting the progress made under the APC-led administration, Osarobo urged Edo residents to align with the APC and vote for Okpebholo as the next governor, emphasizing the need to free the state from what he characterized as the grip of “mini tyrants” and “economic scavengers.”