APC Chieftain Odigie Exposes Tinubu Of Planning To Rig Governorship Election
Prince Emmanuel Odigie, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has alleged that there are plans by the Presidency to manipulate the upcoming Edo Governorship Election in favour of the APC’s governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo.
Odigie disclosed this information during an interview on ARISE TV’s “The Morning Show” programme on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
Odigie is a former Deputy Director General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council and current member of the APC Integrity Group in Edo State.
He alleges that a cabal within the Presidency, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, have colluded with certain APC leaders in Edo State to orchestrate a rigging scheme in the upcoming September 21 Governorship Election.
According to Odigie, this plot will unfold while President Bola Tinubu is conveniently out of the country on a supposedly disguised trip.
He also alleged that the APC-led federal government intends to deploy the police and other security agencies to intimidate voters and create an environment conducive to election manipulation. He claimed that this plan is aimed at suppressing voter turnout and facilitating a rigged outcome in the forthcoming Edo Governorship Election.
He said, “There is a plan by the APC and we know it. The Integrity group members are always in every meeting they hold.
“There’s a plan to use the Vice President, Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila to rig the election while the president will go on holidays.”
According to him, there is also a plan to “use the police and DSS (Department of State Services) to intimidate the people”.
When questioned about his alleged anti-party activities, Odigie clarified that his public endorsement of PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo does not signify a departure from the APC.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to President Tinubu and his membership in the APC, explaining that his support for Asue Ighodalo stems from the latter’s impressive track record and his genuine desire to see Edo State prosper.
“In 2016, Comrade (Adams) Oshiomhole told us it was the blueprint that Obaseki and Asue Ighodalo gave him that he used to increase IGR in Edo from N600 million to about N3 billion,” he said.
He criticised a former governor of state, Oshiomhole, saying, “Edo people do not believe in him anymore. His days are over and he should allow a free and fair election.”
He lamented that Oshiomhole, the senator representing Edo North Senatorial district in 2023 made himself the face of the APC campaign in the state, leading to failure at the polls.
He said that the Edo APC “couldn’t even give Asiwaju Bola Tinubu 25% of votes cast”.
“We also lost the House of Assembly elections to PDP,” he added.
