Edo State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged the All Progressives Congress (APC) of printing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to rig the September 19 governorship election.
PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, on Sunday at a news conference at the re-election campaign organisation’s office of Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin, levelled the allegations against the leaders and members of the APC.
The party said: “We wrote letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and other security agencies to give them our itineraries for the campaigns.
“Owan West was one of the local governments that we gave the dates for, for our electioneering, but to our surprise, APC leaders chose the same day for Estako West Local Government to visit the same area, but our intelligence showed that they deliberately did that to ensure clash, because from the outset, all they are interested in, is to have the September 19 election postponed, by fomenting trouble.
“They are aware that as it is today, they will be defeated roundly and very decisively. So, it is in their interest that the election is postponed.
“We also notified the security agencies that APC leaders are printing PVCs to be used to rig the election. We told them of the location of the printing of the PVCs, but they decided to turn a blind eye.
“APC leaders have discovered that they cannot win a free and fair election. So, they are displaying desperation. Governor Obaseki is sure of winning the election, in view of his impressive performance in almost four years. Edo people are also tired of godfatherism and the use of touts.”
