By Seyi Babalola
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council in Edo has called on Nigerians and the people of the state to discountenance allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of harassment of its members ahead of the September 21 poll.
The APC Governorship Campaign Council in a statement issued in Benin, on Tuesday, labelled alleged harassment of PDP members as a ruse meant to divert attention from heinous plans by the ruling party in Edo, to continue with its unabashed clampdown of the opposition, through the instrumentality of state powers.
It described Matthew Iduoriyekemwen of the PDP as a recycled jobber with no iota of credibility to his name.
The Edo PDP had raised the alarm over alleged harassment of its members by policemen on prompting by the state APC.
The party in a statement by Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, DG, Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, alleged that policemen arrested a number of its members, including one Amos Tom and Kingsley Osahon, claiming that the names of some PDP leaders were being compiled to be arrested.
The APC in picking holes with the allegations, lampooned Iduoriyekemwen and others in the PDP camp, as it recalled series of proven intimidation and harassment of its chieftain, including the recent killing of a police officer attached to our governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo.
It stated: “This is a bad card Iduoriyekemwen is playing here and it is most unfortunate. In any case, he has no scintilla of credibility attached to his name and no one is unaware of this. He has chosen to remain in his element as a perpetual jobber, and has completely lost touch or is selling a dummy that cannot fly.
“For how long have APC chieftains and other members from across the three senatorial zones been harassed, intimidated and attacked in Edo, all through orders from above. Just recently Senator Okpebholo APC Governorship candidate and former deputy governor were attacked at the airport by agents of the Obaseki failed administration.
“The Edo State APC Chairman, Chief Jarret Etanebe had to cry out and wrote series of petitions to the appropriate quarters over incessant harassment meted on him.
“Only Iduoriyekemwen, a spent force of decades past, who appears to be living in his own world, can tell us what he and the PDP are newly up to. He must be flying a red herring, and all well meaning people of Edo State should be on the lookout and must remain vigilant.
“All these false alarm to an attempt to divert attention while the PDP stockpile more arms to unleash mayhem on APC members since it is obvious that they have failed in marketing their Lagos Candidate to Edo indigenes. But we will resist them”.
