A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and member of Edo Integrity Group, Prince Emmanuel Odigie, has alleged that the party is planning to manipulate and rig the upcoming governorship election, using the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Odigie made this known during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, stating that President Bola Tinubu is aware of the purported plan and will be on holiday during the September election.
While criticising the current state of political affairs in Edo State, Odigie noted that part of the APC’s rigging plan also includes using the police to intimidate voters on the day of the election.
He also promised to appropriately reveal evidence of these claims, underscoring his commitment to prioritising Edo’s development over partisan politics.
He said, “We know their plans and we will reveal them. There is a master plan by the APC to use the vice president, the senate president and Gbajabiamila to rig elections, while the president will go on holiday. There is a plan to use the police to intimidate people. We know all these things. At the appropriate time, we would begin to reel out proof. I am putting Edo above APC as a party.”
Speaking on the recent claims by the former Governor, Adam Oshiomhole, on the candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Odigie accused the Senator of misleading the public by discussing a nonexistent court judgment and called for him to allow a free and fair election.
He implied that Oshiomhole’s influence in Edo is waning, suggesting that the people of Edo no longer support him.
He said, “Let me even address Adams Oshiomhole, our leader. I am sad to see a man who is supposed to be an elder statesman, well over 70 years old, come on national television and mislead the public. He came and talked about a judgment that never existed. Oshiomhole should wake up and smell the coffee. Edo people do not believe in him anymore. His days are over and he should allow a free and fair election.”
