Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have taken a swipe at Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, and its candidate in the September governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, over alleged sponsorship of a smear campaign against the governorship candidate of the APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

The leaders, who are members of APC Vanguard, said a faceless group, Network of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, recently held a press conference and also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, over claims that Okpebholo sprayed some Naira notes at a public function.
In a statement issued by David Osarobo, yesterday, the leaders wondered why “desperate Obaseki and his political godson, Ighodalo” would resort to character assassination in order to score cheap political points.

The group said as a private and public person, Okpebholo has never sprayed or mutilated the Naira, insisting that the video, agents of the governor and PDP members are sharing on social media, does not belong to Okpebholo.

They said that in Okpebholo’s over 50 years on earth, he had never been arrested by the police for any civil or criminal offence, and wondered why the PDP and its agents would fabricate fake news to tarnish his image ahead of the election where he is favoured to win.

They warned those behind the rumoured petition and State agents to apologize for misleading Edo people.

Osarobo also called on the IGP to investigate the faces behind the petition and prosecute them, accordingly.

Osarobo said; “Emperor Godwin Obaseki, the crisis-ridden PDP and their novice candidate, Ighodalo, have decided to resort to cheap blackmail. They know that they will lose the election, and they are jittery.

“They are scouting for fake news and non-existent things to blackmail Okpebholo and lie to Edo people. Unfortunately for them, we know what they are up to. They are smelling the defeat already. Edo people have already decided, and no amount of State-sponsored intimidation will work.”