The Edo State Government has accused the embattled deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to arrest officials of the Edo State government and members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state so as to manipulate the upcoming governorship election.
This follows a fake unsigned message titled “Anti-Bad Governance Protest and Rally” being circulated by members of the APC and their leadership in Edo State, the government said.
In a press release signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, and made available to newsmen in Benin City, the Edo State capital, the government said the APC and Shaibu have sent another petition to the IGP with names of 22 members of PDP in Edo for arrest over the violent incident that took place on Airport Road that was orchestrated by Shaibu to disrupt the peace of the state.
“A fake and unsigned message titled ‘Anti-Bad Governance Protest and Rally’, is currently being circulated by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their leadership in Edo State with the intent to orchestrate the arrest of Edo State Government officials and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as part of the Edo APC’s strategy to manipulate the September 21 governorship election.
“The APC and Comrade Philip Shaibu had earlier sent another petition to the security agencies listing 22 leaders and members of the PDP, asking the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest them for the violence on Airport Road in Benin City, which was orchestrated by Philip Shaibu to disrupt the peace of Edo State,” Nehikhare said.
The Commissioner stated that the said statement did not emanate from Rev. Olu Martins, who is the Deputy Director General for Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship Election, and described it as the handiwork of the APC to stir crisis in the state ahead of the coming governorship election.
“The said statement did not emanate from Rev. Olu Martins, the Deputy Director General for Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship Election as claimed by the purveyors of this fake news. It is the handiwork of the Edo APC to stir crisis in the State ahead of the governorship election which they are aware they cannot win in a free and fair contest,” he said.
The state government noted that the unsigned message is fake and should be completely disregarded. It therefore adviced citizens to go about their lawful businesses.
