He's ashamed of his poor records - APC slams Obaseki for 'shunning debate'

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have differed on the Edo governorship election debate with the two leading parties playing a blame game ahead of the guber poll.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had scheduled September 19 for the election with PDP and APC highlighting the election in what suggested a two-horse race.

During a peace meeting that was aimed at dousing the tension generated by the election at the palace of Oba of Benin on Wednesday, Septemeber 2, Governor Godwin Obaseki said he was not invited for any debate.

But in a reaction, chairman of APC media campaign council, John Mayaki, insisted that the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) invited Obaseki for debate which the governor shunned.

Mayaki said the election debate group was forced to cancel the debate after Obaseki pulled out over what it termed as the governor's unpreparedness and bad records.

“It was the first of debates meant to showcase the contenders, particularly candidates of the two major parties, before the electorate to speak directly to their manifesto and entertain difficult questions on their intentions and the viability of their plans for office.

“Obaseki is ashamed of his poor records and he is unable to defend them, without first perfecting his script of half-truths and lies. Edo governor is terrified of the prospect of being confronted with his failures in four years, hence his cowardly pull-out, on the grounds of lack of preparation," Mayaki said.

Meanwhile, APC raised an alarm over what it termed as an unjust arrest of its member by suspected security officials on the order of Governor Obaseki

The ruling party gave the name of the arrested member as Abdul Ganiyu, adding that he was also assaulted over allegations levelled against him by some chieftains of the PDP.

In a statement by Mayaki, APC stated that Ganiyu, an engineer from Etsako East local government area, was brutally treated by security officials who acted based on the false information from the accusers.