Edo 2020: PDP Alerts on Tinubu, APC's Intrigue to Rig, Buy Votes With N300m

By Simeon OSAJIE

The 2020 Campaign Council of the Edo State People's Democratic Party has raised the alarm over intrigue by the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC chieftains in Edo to rig and buy votes during the September 19 governorship election with N300 million asked from local councils in Lagos State. 

Chairman of the Council's Publicity and Media Committee, Chris Nehikhare, in press briefing in Benin, said intelligence available to the council revealed that the local government councils in Lagos State have been mandated to contribute N15 million each to finance the rigging plan.

According to him, "We are once again drawing the attention of the world and all lovers of democracy to the glaring fact that the APC is attempting to rig the Edo 2020 governorship election scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2020, by mobilising N300 million from Lagos State local government  councils, each council contributing N15 million to execute the sinister plan.

"It is regrettable and disturbing that at a time when Lagosians are suffering from the vagaries of biting economic hardship superintendented by the APC government's policies, the party is deploying Lagos State's resources to subvert the will of Edo People."

He said it was shameful that the APC is propagating the template of vote buying and rigging that should best be left to the relics of Nigeria's political history, noting, "We are sure that the resort to this despicable tactic is because the party is certain of defeat at the poll and is only trying to save face. The people have been unanimous in their support for the candidate of the PDP and no matter the underhand tactic of the APC, the will of the people must surely prevail."

He queried the interest of Tinubu in the outcome of the poll in Edo, noting that the people are resolute in trimming the reign of godfathers in the state. "Edo is not Lagos. Edo people are proud and dignified people and would not surrender their freedom and freewill to men who want to act god over their affairs. So Tinubu can keep his money in Lagos," he said.