By John Ogunsemore
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that smear campaigns and frivolous litigations aimed to distract its gubernatorial candidate in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo will fail.
The party affirmed that Ighodalo is the undisputed choice of majority of the people of Edo in the September 21 gubernatorial election.
National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba said this in a Sunday statement.
The PDP said it was aware of a well-oiled plot by certain “egocentric and overtly ambitious individuals” to orchestrate a series of coordinated smear campaigns against Ighodalo.
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These elements, the party said, were frustrated by his emergence as candidate and overwhelming popularity across the state.
“The party has been made aware of how these angry and bitter individuals have been going around the courts and reportedly attempting to induce certain judicial officers to procure damaging rulings against our candidate.
“It has also come to the knowledge of our party that these unscrupulous elements have been attempting to compromise the media to publish fabrications against our candidate and campaign.
“Our party has it on good authority that the intent of these individuals who have been holding clandestine meetings in locations in Abuja and Benin City is to cause crisis and derail the democratic process leading to the Edo State governorship election.
“Information available shows that these politicians are behind the erroneous report that our Party’s Governorship Primary in Edo State was nullified by the Court when the Court indeed did not issue any Order to that effect,” the PDP’s statement reads in part.
It added that these individuals have been going about brazenly boasting that they have the connection and capacity to compromise the courts.
“Such barefaced boast is a direct assault on the sensibility and pride of the majority of the people of Edo State as well as the institutions of democracy where the Will of the majority of the people must prevail.”
PDP urged the judiciary, media and security agencies to be wary of the antics and activities of these elements and take steps to resist their shenanigans which portend clear and present danger to the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy.