Edo Poll: APC, PDP in War of Words Over Boycott Claim

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State are locked in a war of words over the latter’s decision to boycott the September 21 governorship election.

APC Director of Media, Kassim Afegbua, described Governor Godwin Obaseki’s threat to boycott the election as “rogue, ludicrous, ridiculous, self-serving, egocentric, and palpably insulting to the good people of Edo State.”

“We have just been informed that Governor Obaseki has threatened to boycott next Saturday’s gubernatorial election unless the State Commissioner of Police and the Resident Electoral Commissioner are removed from office,” Afegbua said.

“These demands by Governor Obaseki are rogue, ludicrous, ridiculous, self-serving, egocentric, and palpably insulting to the good people of Edo State.

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“It is laughable that Governor Obaseki, who is not a candidate in this election, is attempting to dictate the terms of the election. He is trying to be clever by half, believing he can choose his referee in a contest where his godson, Asue Ighodalo, is a candidate.”

However, Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser on Media Projects to the governor, accused Afegbua of being the mouthpiece of the police and colluding with the APC to manipulate the election.

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“It is perplexing that Afegbua is now standing in for the Nigerian Police, claiming that the Peoples Democratic Party has boycotted the September 21 election in Edo State,” Osagie said.

“We clarify that the PDP did not boycott the election, but rather refrained from signing the Peace Accord until the conditions we put forward for ensuring a level playing field were met. This is a reasonable request under the circumstances.”

Osagie also alleged that the Inspector General of Police was colluding with the APC to manipulate the election.

“For anyone still in doubt, why is the Inspector General of Police suddenly rushing to charge individuals his office has held in custody for nearly two months, following our refusal to sign the Peace Accord?” Osagie asked.