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By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City 


The State Media Campaign Council of the APC for the Sept.19 Governorship election has accused Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP of continuing its onslaught in Edo State against the APC with renewed attacks and destruction of the party's outdoor billboards and other campaign materials.

In a statement released on Monday by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the State Media Campaign Council, the APC said Governor Godwin Obaseki is venting his frustration over widespread rejection by the people on its campaign billboards by allegedly asking his thugs to continue their criminal acts of destruction.

He said: "Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the outgoing Governor of Edo State, is a frustrated man. He is venting his pent-up anger and frustration, made worse with the complete abandonment of his already wrecked re-election bid by his family members and closest aides who continue to resign in large numbers, on our innocent campaign billboards and other materials."

"If not a sign of frustration and indication of intolerance, why is the Governor jittery at the sight of our erected billboards in the State to the point where he gave explicit instruction to his recruited thugs and cultists to destroy them in the cover of the night?"

"We have recorded this mindless vandalism of our billboards at new locations where local residents testified that the crime was carried out by armed thugs who made no pretense to the fact that they were carrying out the instructions of the Governor."

"Everyone listened to Mr. Godwin Obaseki on Sunday when he irresponsibly boasted of his immunity while charging his "boys" to go on a rampage because they are the government."

"We have since alerted the Police, INEC, and other relevant stakeholders to the glaring fact that Mr. Godwin Obaseki, having realized that he stands no chance against Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has decided to mar the election with violence and subvert the will of the people."

"We are repeating our plea to these stakeholders to enforce the rule of law in Edo State and protect our campaign materials and supporters from the tyranny, lawlessness, and violence of Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his state goons."