The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has recently leveled serious accusations against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo, and Governor Godwin Obaseki. According to Orobosa Omo-Ojo, the Director of Publicity for the APC Governorship Campaign Council, these individuals are exhibiting signs of severe hallucinations. This statement came during a press conference where Omo-Ojo addressed the media regarding the upcoming September 21 election.
Omo-Ojo, who served as a commissioner in Edo State during the administration of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, was responding to allegations from the Edo State government. The government had claimed that the APC was planning to rig the forthcoming election. Omo-Ojo dismissed these allegations, suggesting that the PDP and Governor Obaseki were instead fabricating stories to cover their own shortcomings.
He compared the PDP and Obaseki’s call for external assistance to a person who intentionally sets their own house on fire and then asks neighbors to rescue them from the blaze. Omo-Ojo implied that the accusations from the PDP and Obaseki are unfounded and reflect their own troubled state of mind rather than any actual threat from the APC.
Omo-Ojo elaborated on the nature of the hallucinations he accused Obaseki and Ighodalo of having, saying that they seem to believe they are experiencing unreal or imagined threats. He referred to recent events, including the tragic murder of late Inspector Onuh Akor, which he claimed might be haunting them. He also pointed out that their apparent fear of losing the election has led them to spread false narratives.
In a broader context, Omo-Ojo noted that Obaseki and Ighodalo’s refusal to sign a peace accord organized by the National Peace Committee, led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, is a troubling sign. By not committing to the peace agreement, the PDP and its candidate have signaled a willingness to use violence and intimidation as tools to secure victory, according to Omo-Ojo.
The APC spokesperson also criticized the PDP’s threats regarding the potential for violence if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not produce favorable results for Ighodalo. He argued that these threats demonstrate a pattern of aggressive behavior from the PDP, contrasting it with the APC’s commitment to a peaceful electoral process.
Omo-Ojo asserted that the people of Edo State are resolute in their determination to resist any attempts at electoral violence. He emphasized that the APC’s primary goal is to remove the PDP from power through a legitimate electoral process and to address what he described as the corrupt practices and mismanagement that have harmed the state. The APC aims to restore integrity and progress to Edo State, ensuring a better future for its residents.
The statements from Omo-Ojo reflect the heightened political tension in Edo State as the election approaches, with both parties engaging in intense public discourse and strategic positioning.
