Conduct drug tests on candidates, APC tells NDLEA

The All Progressives Congress Governorship Campaign Council in the September 21 poll in Edo State has called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to subject leading candidates to compulsory drug tests to ascertain their level of sanity.

In a statement made available by the council’s Director of Media, Kassim Afegbua, on Wednesday in Benin, the state capital, he urged the NDLEA to zero in on all the frontline candidates of the major political parties with a view to ascertaining their sanity.

“We have been reliably informed that some of them are alleged to be heavy consumers of banned substances and also alcohol. A test for all of them will unveil their level of sanity.

“Edo voters must be well-guided in making informed choices during the elections and avoid voting for a candidate who will spend the state’s resources in funding drug and alcoholic lifestyles,” he said.

Afegbua said the compulsory test would save Edo people of future embarrassment that may arise, adding that voters can not be deceived again.

He added, “Edo State is too decent to have a governor who will bring shame to the people. Anyone who wants to govern Edo State should not be a heavy consumer of marijuana. This is a banned substance, and we expect the NDLEA to verify and conduct tests on the major candidates.

“Our candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is prepared to submit himself to any test any time he’s called upon. We expect similar assurances from the other candidates to ascertain their level of sanity.

“It will be a big shame for residents of other states to drag our people in the mud for mistakenly voting for a candidate whose state of mind can not be guaranteed. That is a big risk Edo people can not gamble with. We are doing this to save our state, and we hope that the NDLEA will quickly swing into action and do the needful.

“As we countdown to September 21, we will continue to mount pressure on NDLEA and other law enforcement agencies to come to the aid of Edo people and subject the candidates to compulsory drug tests. The people deserve to know who they are supporting.

“We must unearth any padded candidate who pretends to be a saint during the day but a notorious gangster at night. Edo people deserve a governor with a sane mind to lead us into prosperity.”