The Edo State Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as unfortunate the protest allegedly sponsored by the PDP in Agbede, a community in Etsako, Edo North, against its Deputy Governorship candidate, Hon. Mallam Gani Audu.
Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Media Campaign Council for the September 19 Edo Governorship election, condemned what he termed as a staged protest allegedly orchestrated by the PDP to misrepresent the people of Agbede who he claims are solidly behind Hon. Gani Audu.
He said: “The sponsored protest, attached to a frivolous claim that the people of Agbede are somewhat dissatisfied with Hon. Gani Audu’s emergence as the running mate to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu because he was elected to serve as a state legislator, is a violation of all democratic ethics and the disregard of INEC’s regulations prohibiting the staging of such events capable of fomenting trouble and sparking a spread of the COVID-19 disease.”
“The protest is nothing but a continuation of the desperate propaganda of the PDP. For days now, in responsible groups and safe engagement meetings, Hon. Gani Audu has been meeting with his people who remain proud of him and have declared their complete support.
“This has clearly rattled the embattled PDP and they are now responding with the only thing they know how to do: sponsoring confusion and sowing seeds of discord.”
“Their actions further reveal the already known fact that they are not interested in campaigning based on issues because Obaseki has no plan or manifesto.”
“All they want to do is incite Edo people against each other and their own.”
“Hon. Gani Audu is with his people and they are with him. Godwin Obaseki and his agents are targeting him with sponsored protests and all kinds of mischievous attacks because they know his emergence has dealt a fatal blow to their permutations.”
“The Governor is also still hurting from Hon. Gani Audu’s refusal to join his illegal mid-night Assembly condemned by both arms of the National Assembly. He was displeased that the Hon. Gani Audu and other majority members-elect refused to cave to his pressure to reduce the independent legislature to a mere extension of his office as Governor.”
“The illegal Assembly he wants Hon. Gani Audu to join is now in total darkness because they cannot afford electricity bills after the emperor Governor refused to release funds in the bizarre funding arrangement which leaves what ought to be an independent arm of government at his mercy.”
“The people of Edo North are happy that Hon. Gani Audu now has a chance to represent them in a sane and responsible government as the Deputy Governor.”