Prince Emmanuel Odigie, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has called attention to allegedly planned schemes by the Presidency to manipulate the upcoming governorship election for Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC candidate in the State.
Odigie made the disclosure during his guest appearance on a national TV breakfast show on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
The Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council deputy director General, Prince Odigie, who is now a member of the APC integrity group in Edo State, made public that there are elements in the Presidency including Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has come up with plans with other APC leaders in Edo State to manipulate the September 21 Governorship Election while President Tinubu is traveling overseas disguised.
According to the APC chieftain, the federal government led by the APC is planning to deploy security agencies to intimidate voters and pave way for manipulation of the election outcome.
“There is a plan by the APC and we know it. The Integrity group members are always in every meeting they hold.. There’s a plan to use the vice President, Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila to rig the election while the president will go on holidays. There is also a plan to use the police and DSS to intimidate the people, we know all these things,” he stated
He warned that the people of Edo in the diaspora have also filed petitions with various international agencies warning against the APC’s planned rigging. He also pointed out that President Tinubu should be vigilant to prevent certain forces within the presidency from subverting the collective will of the Edo people.
In response to inquiries about his alleged anti-party activities after supporting Asue Ighodalo the PDP governorship candidate, Prince Odigie asserted that he remains a genuine APC member and steadfast supporter of President Tinubu but his support for Ighodalo’s bid to become governor of Edo State was based on his proven track record and passion for Edo’s growth.
“Asue Ighodalo is an international brand. Edo is blessed to have such a man. He left all his jobs and offered himself to serve the people, yet some politicians wanted to truncate the opportunity for Edo to grow. In 2016, Comrade Oshiomhole told us it was the blueprint that Obaseki and Asue Ighodalo gave him that he used to increase IGR in Edo from N600m to about N3billion,” Odigie disclosed.
He expressed his disapproval of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the former Edo State governor and incumbent Senator representing the Edo North Senatorial district, for faking a court judgment that did not exist on TV to deceive the public. He criticized the Senator for supporting APC’s governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, who he said lacks the required knowledge and experience to lead Edo State.
“Adams Oshiomhole came and talked about a judgement that never existed on TV. 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,” he said.
He further stated that, “In 2023, Oshiomhole made himself the face of the APC campaign in Edo State and we lost woefully to the extent that we couldn’t even give Asiwaju Bola Tinubu 25% of votes cast. We also lost the House of Assembly elections to PDP. Today, he has also made himself the face of the Governorship Campaigns in Edo State and APC’s defeat is imminent.”
The Edo APC governorship candidate Okpebholo, according to Prince Odigie, is unable to read a balanced sheet and was challenged to speak to the Edo people at a TV station.
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