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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Edo State has challenged politicians alleging attacks by its members or supporters to produce evidence before security agencies, warning against manufacturing incidents to attract public sympathy ahead of the 2027 elections.
The warning comes against the background of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s allegation that gunmen opened fire on the convoy of its Edo Central senatorial candidate, Herberta Okonofua and party chieftain, Kenneth Imansuangbon, in Igueben Local Government Area on Tuesday.
The ADC’s State Publicity Secretary, Chris Ojeikere, said a supporter, Jerry Oliha, sustained gunshot wounds at the premises of the Enogie of Igueben and was taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media, John Mayaki, the Presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Campaign Council warned that the ruling party should not be blamed for every arrest, quarrel or community dispute in the state.
“Let nobody manufacture an attack and then hang it on the APC simply because election season has arrived.
“That trick will not sell. It will not fly,” the council said.
The ADC accused Igueben council chairman, Endurance Azemegbe, of leading the alleged attackers. Azemegbe denied involvement, saying he was not in Igueben when the incident allegedly occurred.
“I was not around and I don’t know what happened. I am just hearing this from you,” he said.
In the initial reports, Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said the command could not immediately confirm the incident and would look into it once formally reported.
The APC campaign council maintained that allegations involving firearms were too serious to be reduced to political theatre, insisting that anyone presenting spent cartridges as evidence of an APC attack must be prepared to establish the claim before investigators.
“If anybody thinks he can pick up spent cartridges from the ground, display them before cameras and present them as proof that ‘APC boys’ opened fire, then such a person should be ready to establish that claim before the police and the appropriate investigative authorities.
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“Evidence is evidence. Drama is not evidence,” the council said.
It called for investigations to establish the origin of any recovered ammunition, who fired it and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Every arrest is not political. Every quarrel is not political. Every gunshot is not automatically an APC attack. Every disagreement is not a conspiracy by the ruling party.
“If you allege an attack, prove it. If you allege gunfire, let investigators establish where the ammunition came from, who fired it and under what circumstances,” the statement said.
The council urged politicians to take personal grievances to the appropriate authorities rather than turn them into allegations against the APC.
“But do not drag the ruling party into your private troubles simply because you think shouting ‘APC’ will attract sympathy,” it said.
It also said Governor Monday Okpebholo would not tolerate criminality or acts capable of undermining the state’s peace, irrespective of the political affiliation of those involved.
The council warned that deliberately fabricating or staging attacks to create fear, mislead the public or gain political sympathy could attract legal consequences where an offence was established.
“No one should mistake political season for a licence to manufacture insecurity. Where an allegation amounts to a criminal offence, the law should take its course,” it said.
“Political sympathy cannot be built on manufactured victimhood, and criminal allegations should not be reduced to campaign propaganda.
“The electorate is watching, the police can investigate, and facts have a stubborn way of exposing fiction,” the council added.
