We’ll scuttle APC plans to rig Edo election - Wike

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council for Edo Governorship Election and Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said the council will scuttle alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use security agencies to rig the September 19 governorship poll in Edo State.

But in a swift reaction, the Chairman of Edo State Media Campaign Council of APC governorship election, Mr. John Mayaki, said Wike was talking more than he was campaigning.

He described as “inane, puerile and negligible” the claims by Rivers State governor that APC plans to postpone and rig the election.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, yesterday adjourned till August 24, hearing in a suit seeking the disqualification of the APC governorship candidate in Edo State, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and his running mate, Mr. Audu Ganiyu, from the forthcoming election.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, August 10, 2020, Wike said the APC was confident about winning because it wanted to rig the election.

He stated that the PDP has gathered enough intelligence report about the alleged plan and would scuttle it at the appropriate time.

Wike added that Obaseki cannot be described as an ingrate because he has proven to be a man of character.

He said: “Governor Godwin Obaseki is not an ingrate like Adams Oshiomhole and Osagie Ize-Iyamu who can do anything, including betraying people to grab power.

“Obaseki is morally qualified and stands out as the best candidate for the September 19, 2020 election.

“Edo people cannot support and desire the handover of power to the APC candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who is a nomadic politician and ingrate who lacks character.

“It is Oshiomhole who is an ingrate because he told us that Obaseki served as the brain box of his administration that lasted eight years. How can such a person become an ingrate?

“Look at Ize-Iyamu, he is an ingrate too. He served as Secretary to the State Government in Chief Lucky Igbinedion’s administration. When he didn’t get what he wanted, he dumped the party and moved to another party.

“In 2015, people supported him for the governorship, when he failed, he did not consult them but abandoned them for another party.

“That is the life of a nomadic politician. Like his master, they are dangerously desperate, insatiable and can do anything for power.”

Wike stated that Obaseki is not a violent man like Ize-Iyamu who allegedly instructed thugs he called “lions and tigers” to cause crisis.

He challenged the police and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the Edo election to correct previous mistakes by conducting free and fair polls.

“We consider the comment by INEC to cancel or suspend the election because of violence as succumbing to the antics of the APC.

“All they want is violence because they cannot win the election. If the election is suspended, the implication is that Obaseki will serve out his tenure without an election in November,” he said.

Mayaki, however, faulted Wike, describing his allegations as “inane, puerile and negligible.”

Mayaki said Wike, like Obaseki, should focus on the claims against him of an alleged violation of human rights.

In a statement, Mayaki said: “I do not know if Wike manufactures these tales himself or if he has a team of lazy children’s books’ writers who manufacture these claims. I am torn between answering him seriously and stepping down to match his humour.

“To start with, let him provide proof for anything he said. He cannot. How does the party that is not in power plan to oust the police in Edo State? He meant to accuse us but ended up insulting the Nigeria Police Force. I think they need to address the disrespectful and sickening way he spoke about them. This is not the first time that the governor has demonstrated a pedestrian restrain in his words.

“The inane speculation cannot hold water, as we stand to gain no further advantage should Mr. Obaseki leave office.”