By Francis Ogbuagu,Benin City
The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP)Sunday alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finalized an arrangement to rig the September 19 gubernatorial election in Edo State.
It stated that the APC plans to use what it calls the Hope Uzodima template to rig the election.The template, according to the Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chris Nehikhare, is to print ballot papers, tomb print them in favour of the APC, while they cause trouble in some units, then smuggle the ballot papers either at the point of the collation or before the collation.
Briefing Journalists in Benin,after the party completed it’s
campaign in Edo Central Senatorial District,the Publicity Secretary said the party electioneering campaign to the zone was successful and that the PDP government commissioned numerous projects completed by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
He said the APC has been relaying fake news to hinder the Edo people from coming out on September 19 to cast their vote for the PDP candidate. Hear him.
“APC in the last few weeks have been relaying out fake news apparently to stop Edo people from coming out on election day.Edo people will not be intimidated or will they be scared, because of fake news.Edo people had been threatened that the election will be violent. We want to assure you that their lions and tigers had been tamed.
“To a more serious issues,the PDP has uncovered a more sinister plot by which APC hopes to rig the September 19 gubernatorial election in Edo State.They want to apply the Hope Uzodima template.That template is where they will have in their possession fake result sheets,the will try to disrupt election in someunits,and as election is ongoing,the will retire to a hotel, smuggle it in at the collation center or before then.We are telling them not to try,if they do the tribunal will not even listen to them.” He said that the PDP will commence it’s Edo South campaign on Tuesday,25 of August.
Reacting,the Commissioner for Special Duties in Imo State, Comrade Simon Ebegbulem said.
“Its clear that Obaseki and his PDP is finding it difficult to market themselves to the Edo electorate after four years of failed promises, signing frivolous MOUs and Ponzi government, therefore has resorted to blackmail and lies to cover his shameful outing so far. His Excellency, Governor Uzodimma is not an INEC staff therefore has no business keeping result sheets.
“Our governor believes in the rule of law and he has strong believe that only the Edo electorate will vote out Obaseki and not rigging. Rather Obaseki is only disclosing what he and othe PDP Governors have perfected to execute. It is on record where Obaseki boasted that only himself and his deputy has monopoly of rigging and maiming because they have immunity. So they are only rehearsing their evil plots seeing that Edo electorate have rejected them.
“Telling lies and Propaganda will not save Obaseki and through the ballot he will be voted out on September 19, 2020. And the APC will resist any attempt by the failed PDP government to manipulate the election as they are plotting. Governor Uzodimma has no business rigging Edo Election but he will surely stop Obaseki from rigging the forthcoming election.” He said
