The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to fulfill its threat of boycotting the upcoming Edo State governorship election, set for next week.
The challenge follows a statement by Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, who said the PDP would withdraw from the election unless the State Commissioner of Police and the Resident Electoral Commissioner were removed from their positions.
Obaseki claimed the officials were biased and should be redeployed.
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Responding to Obaseki’s demands, Kassim Afegbua, the Director of Media for the Edo APC Campaign Council, dismissed the governor’s call as “ridiculous” and driven by frustration.
Afegbua said Obaseki’s attempts to influence the election process were self-serving and an insult to the people of Edo State.
“It’s absurd that Governor Obaseki, who isn’t even running in this election, is trying to dictate terms. He wants to handpick the officials who will oversee the election, but that’s not how democracy works,” Afegbua stated.
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“The people of Edo have full confidence in both the Resident Electoral Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police, who have been working tirelessly to ensure a free and fair election.”
Afegbua also praised the disbandment of the Edo Security Network, which had faced allegations of rogue operations in the state. “We commend the Inspector General of Police for disbanding the security outfit. This is a step toward ensuring peace and order during the election.”
The APC expressed confidence in their chances of winning the election and dismissed Obaseki’s demands as attempts to manipulate the process in favor of the PDP’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
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“The governor and his party are trying to rewrite the rules to benefit themselves,” Afegbua said. “We welcome the PDP’s boycott threat, and if they go through with it, it will only work against them. Should they decide to back down, it will further confirm their failure as politicians.”
The APC urged its members to remain calm and prepare for victory, emphasizing that elections are a democratic process to choose leaders, not a battle of self-interests.
