By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin 

The Edo State chapter of All Progressive Congress, APC, has called on the ruling PDP in the state to retract an allegations its (PDP) levelled against the party that the APC is plotting to rig and buy votes in the upcoming local government elections slated for September 2nd, 2023 in the state.

Chairman of the PDP in the state, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, had reportedly raised the alarm that the APC was plotting to buy votes using N150 million from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

But a statement signed by Victor Ofure Osehobo, Assistant State Publicity Secretary of the APC, a copy of which was made available to INFO DAILY on Saturday, described the allegations as “baseless, unfounded, misleading, lacking in evidence”, stressing that “NDDC operates independently and has its own budget and priorities.”

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“Any insinuation that NDDC funds will be used for illegitimate purposes is a blatant attempt to tarnish the reputation of the commission and the APC. But Mr Aziegbemi cannot understand this,” Osehobo added.

According to the Assistant State Publicity Secretary, rather, “Governor Godwin Obaseki, has already written the results of the elections with PDP candidates as Chairmen/Councillors across the 18 local government areas is the party raising concerns.”

While stating that Edo APC is committed to a free and fair LG election, he urged Edo people to choose their local government leaders based on merit and not to be “swayed by false information and baseless accusations.”

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He added: “We believe in the power of our people to choose the next crop of Local government leaders without any external interference or manipulation. But this is a far cry with the junta in Edo.

“We believe that Edo people should have the opportunity to choose their leaders based on merit and cannot be swayed by false information and baseless accusations from a losers party like the PDP.”