The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to emulate President Muhammadu Buhari and allow free and fair elections.
Acting National publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena made the declaration in a statement on Tuesday.
Nabena In the statement accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its flagbearer in the forthcoming governorship election, Governor Godwin Obaseki, of using the “Obaseki Boys” and state apparatus to harass the State House of Assembly and APC members in the state.
He also called on Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to ensure the vote of the people count in the forthcoming Edo governorship election.
He further urged them to avoid interfering in the operations of other arms of government including the judiciary and legislative arms while institutions of the state should not be involved in political battles.
The statement reads:
“President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration that the All Progressives Congress (APC) could have used the military and other security services to overrun opposition states in the 2019 general election but chose free, fair elections is a solid pointer that under the current administration, the days of stolen and procured electoral mandates are fast fading.”
“Critical state institutions such as the Judiciary, INEC, security services have been the ultimate beneficiaries of the President’s impartiality and non-interference. We must all support the independence of our state institutions to deepen our democracy and improve our electioneering system.”
“Ahead of the Edo State Governorship election, the PDP candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki continually spins puerile conspiracies on the role of ‘federal might’, while using his so called “Obaseki Boys” and state apparatus under his control to harass the State House of Assembly and APC members in the state. On his part, Governor Nyesom Wike as head of the PDP campaign council threatens violence.”
“While we understand the panic and distress in the camp of the PDP and Governor Obaseki following the massive and widespread support given by the Edo electorate to the APC Governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC invites the PDP to join us in issue-based campaigns and at least attempt to sell to the Edo electorate the merit of their candidate, if any.”
“The APC’s people-focused development records across the country forms the basis of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s six-point ‘SIMPLE agenda’ for the good people of Edo State which stands for Security, Infrastructural development, Manpower development, Public Private Partnership, Leadership and Employment creation.”
“We call on partisans, particularly the PDP to purge themselves of their agelong undemocratic habits of election rigging, vote buying, violence, abuse of state institutions for political ends and address themselves to new realities that under the President Buhari-led APC administration, power now belongs to the people and during elections, votes count.”
(C) Control TV 2020.
