Rigging allegation against Shettima, others baseless, says APC

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, on Saturday, described as baseless the claims made by a party chieftain, Emmanuel Odigie, that there are plans by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other top government officials to rig the September 21 governorship election in the state.

Odigie, a member of the Edo Integrity Group, made the allegation in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday.

The APC chieftain also alleged that part of the party’s rigging plan included using the police to intimidate voters on the day of the election.

He claimed that Shettima was going to work with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, while the President would be forced to take a holiday.

He said, “There are plans by the All Progressives Congress to manipulate and rig the upcoming governorship election in Edo State, using Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, while the President takes a holiday.

“Part of the APC’s rigging plan also includes using the police to intimidate voters on the day of the election. We know their plans, and we will reveal them at the appropriate time. We will begin to present evidence. I am putting Edo above the APC as a party.”

Reacting in a statement, the Director of Publicity for the APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, said the allegation was baseless and expressed concern about the inflammatory and inciting language used by Odigie in the interview.

The statement read, “The All Progressives Congress in Edo State has reviewed the diatribes of the rabble-rouser and jobless Prince Emmanuel Odigie, whose known job experience can be attested to by the victims of his trade.

“Our party, and indeed Nigerians, are concerned about the highly inflammatory and inciting words used by Odigie in his interview with Arise Television on Thursday, August 15, 2024, especially his call for President Bola Tinubu to be aware of people calling for a military takeover.

“People are calling for the military, and people are plotting how to truncate democracy. President Tinubu must be careful.’ These were the exact words used by Odigie, who, from his activities so far, is obviously a security risk to our nation.

“Nigerians are also concerned about the reckless, heinous plan by Odigie and his group to discredit the yet-to-be-held September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.

“More worrisome is the allegation that the Presidency has concluded plans to rig the election in favour of Senator Monday Okpebholo.

“Like a fly destined to follow a corpse into the grave, Odigie told his bewildered audience that members of a so-called integrity group were present at every meeting where these plans were made.”

The party therefore called for a thorough investigation of all the allegations made by Odigie against Tinubu, Shettima, and others.

“In light of the danger that Mr Emmanuel Odigie has become, the APC and indeed Nigerians are requesting a thorough investigation of all his allegations, including those he made against the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Inspector General of Police.

“The arrest and prosecution of Emmanuel Odigie will thwart whatever plans his integrity group has put in place to destabilise Nigeria. It will go a long way to ensuring the sanctity of the ballot box in Nigeria, including the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State,” the statement added.