Edo APC dismisses rigging allegation against Shettima, others

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday described as baseless claims by a chieftain of the party, Prince Emmanuel Odigie, that there were plans by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima and others top government officials to rig the September 21 governorship election of the state.

Odigie, a member of the pro-APC group known as  Edo integrity Group, made the allegation in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, alleging that part of the APC’s rigging plan also included using the police to intimidate voters on the day of election.

He alleged that Shettima was going to work with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, while the President would be prevailed upon to take a holiday.

He said, “There are plans by the All Progressives Congress to manipulate and rig the upcoming governorship election in Edo State, using the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President God’swill Akpabio and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, while the president takes a holiday.

“Part of the APC’s rigging plan also includes using the police to intimidate voters on the day of election. We know their plans and we would reveal them at the appropriate time, we would begin to reel out proof. I am putting Edo above APC as a party.”

Reacting in a statement on Saturday, the Director of Publicity, APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, described the allegation as baseless.

He said, “The All Progressives Congress in Edo State, has reviewed the diatribes of the rabble-rouser jobless Prince Emmanuel Odigie, whose known job experience can be told by victims of his trade.

“Our party and indeed Nigerians are concerned about the highly inflammable and inciting words the said Odigie used in his interview with Arise Television on Thursday August 15, 2024, especially his call to President Bola Tinubu to be aware of calls by people that the military should take over.

“People are calling for the military and people are plotting how to truncate democracy, President Tinubu must be careful.” These were the exact words used by Odigie who from his activities so far, is a security risk to our nation.

“Nigerians are also concerned about the reckless heinous plan by Odigie and his group to discredit the yet to be held September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.

“More worrisome is the allegation that the Presidency has concluded plans to rig the election in favour of Senator Monday Okpebholo.

“Like a fly destined to follow a corpse into the grave, Odigie told his bewildered audience that the so-called integrity group members were present in every meeting where these plans were held.”