By Mario Deepromoter

The Presidency has denied allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration plans to use state machinery to manipulate the election and ensure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Edo State governorship election.

Recall the PDP Edo State Chairman, Anthony Aziegbemi, had alleged that the presidency intends to use the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to favour the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in the September 21 election.

In response, the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, through his legal representatives, Charles Musa & Co., refuted the claims, calling them “baseless” and contrary to Ribadu’s reputation.

Speaking with Daily Trust on Monday, Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, also denied the allegations.

Ajayi said, “There is no truth in such a claim. President Tinubu will not lend his presidency to any illegality or anything that compromises the integrity of our elections. He is an avowed democrat.”

Ajayi also suggested that many PDP leaders had already joined the APC in Edo State, questioning the relevance of the opposition.

“What is left of the PDP in Edo State is a carcass that Governor (Godwin) Obaseki is using as his special purpose vehicle,” he said.

Addressing the role of security agencies, Ajayi concluded, “The DSS and NSA work for the security and preservation of the country. Such important institutions can never be used to subvert the electoral process or democracy under any guise.”

The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has vowed to resist any act of intimidation in the November 16, 2024 governorship election.

The vow followed the discovery of alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress to harass the opposition parties in the state.

The PDP governorship candidate, Mr Agboola Ajayi, stated this on Monday at the PDP youth programme in Akure, the state capital.

He said, “We have seen signal; we have seen their plans but we are not scared of any intimidation. People will go out and vote; we are not scared of anybody once our youths conduct themselves in a civilised manner. You can’t take away their rights to cast their votes for whoever they want to vote for.

“I have advised them that they must not allow any reflection to frustrate them and they must conquer poverty through their votes.

“When they do that, the chains of poverty will be cut off. We are prepared for them; we are ready for them. We will resist any act of intimidation.”

Agboola said the youth were already irritated by the development in the country, adding that their anger was already built up and ready for a positive change through their votes.

“People are waiting for the PDP. We will support the youth. Don’t be intimidated; the state belongs to all of us. Vote and defend your votes,” he charged.

The Director General of the PDP Campaign Council in the Ondo State governorship election, Dr Eddy Olafeso, said PDP remained committed to ensuring that all the structures of the party across the state were committed to the November 16 election.

“Our party is back and better; no matter what anybody is saying. You can see the cohesion and the steadiness with which we are approaching the campaign.

“Soon, we will be visiting all units, and wards in the 18 local government areas of the state.

“Our message is simple: Nigerians should expect that hope is on the way. The poverty we are all going through has been inflicted on us by the APC government for the past nine years.

“It’s going from bad to worse. People can no longer pay school fees, people are dropping out of schools and businesses are not thriving.

“Even the palliative given by the President is stolen in Ondo State. Nobody is seeing anything. Over N100bn received as allocation by the state has not been able to do anything by the government,” Olafeso stated

The state PDP Youth Leader, Daudu Babatunde, commended the state campaign council and caretaker committee of the party for the avenue to re-awake youths of the party towards the forthcoming poll.

He added that the election would provide a platform for the people to send the APC-led government packing.

“We are ready to silence the APC government through a voting protest on November 16. We want to put smiles on the masses so that our sun can shine again. Youths should be united to restore the glory of the state,” he said.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo has filed a N20bn defamatory suit against Senator Adams Oshiomhole over comments on the Planwell scheme.

Ighodalo, through his counsel, Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, also sought an immediate and unqualified retraction and apology for the false, defamatory, and malicious comments which should be published in at least two (2) National Television Networks and three (3) nationally circulating newspapers.

The PDP candidate noted that the allegations by Oshiomhole are baseless, false, and malicious, describing them as another of such defamatory fabrications and statements made by the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District in the recent past.

He added that the fabrication of the unfounded and false story is a figment of Oshiomhole’s imagination, intended to denigrate his good character and reputation for the political purpose of advancing the sinking fortunes of Oshiomhole’s party and candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State.

A letter by Ighodalo’s lawyers dated September 16, 2024, and addressed to Oshiomhole reads, “We are counsel to Asue Ighodalo, who is the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming Edo State Governorship election. It is our information that at a campaign rally of your party on Saturday, September 14, 2024, you made statements to the effect that our aforesaid client, Dr Ighodalo, was associated with or participated in an alleged pyramid scheme known as ‘PLANWELL’ in which numerous Nigerians were defrauded of their hard-earned funds.

“This false and unfounded statement of yours was broadcast live on television and has received extensive exposure on electronic and social media. It is sad to note that despite your status as an elder and holder of a public office, you appear to have developed a pattern of spewing false statements in the public domain purely for the achievement of your political ends.

“This baseless, unfounded, false, and malicious allegation has become another in a long line of such defamatory fabrications and statements made by you in respect of our client in the recent past. Our client is an accomplished Nigerian legal practitioner and a corporate leader whose impressive resume from birth up till the current day is entirely in the public domain our client has absolutely no connection with and could never have been involved in any manner whatsoever with the purported ‘PLANWELL’ scheme with which you have seriously defamed our client’s reputation.”

Ighodalo further noted, “It is clear that the fabrication of the unfounded and false story regarding the purported involvement of our client in the said ‘PLANWELL’ scheme or any other financial scheme whatsoever, is a figment of your imagination and a story fabricated purely to denigrate the good character and reputation of our client for the achievement of the political purpose of advancing the sinking fortunes of your political party and candidate in the forthcoming Edo State Gubernatorial elections.”

The letter added that Ighodalo was determined to ensure that the allegations against him do not go unaddressed.

“Our client has been inundated with calls and other contacts from concerned members of the public who heard your said allegations on electronic and social media as a result of which our client has suffered enormous unwarranted reputational damage arising from the lies and baseless fabrications of which you have become the purveyor.

“Our client is determined to ensure that these defamatory lies and fabrications which you have put in the public space do not go unchallenged.

“In consequence of the foregoing, therefore, our client demands the following: i) An immediate and unqualified retraction and apology for your false, defamatory and malicious statements which should be published in at least two (2) National Television Networks and three (3) Nationally circulating newspapers.

“Pay to our client damages for 20 billion Naira for your false, defamatory, and malicious statements referred to herein. Take Notice that it is our client’s instructions that we immediately institute appropriate proceedings against you for damages in the sum of Twenty (20) Billion Naira (N20,000,000,000.00) for your said false, malicious, irresponsible and damaging statements made against our client without any foundation whatsoever. Further take notice that such action will be instituted without further notice or correspondence to you in that regard whatsoever,” it added.