Edo Guber Election: Twist As APC Chairman Leads Move To Arrest PDP Candidate After Court Nullified His Party’s Primary

Emperor Jarret Tenebe, acting chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding the arrest and prosecution of Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, whom he accuses of forging his voter’s card.

This came days after court nullified the PDP primary election which produced Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.

In a letter dated July 3rd, Tenebe, acting in his capacity as a concerned voter and law-abiding citizen, expressed his concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, stating, “whose interest would be affected if a non-qualified person is allowed to participate or is elected.”

Tenebe alleged that Ighodalo presented forged documents to both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the public. In his petition, he stated, “That the said Asuerinme Ighodalo has also presented same documents with a view of misleading the general public to rely on same to be true in claiming his party ticket based on a fraudulent and crooked foundation.”

He further detailed, “That the said Asuerinme Ighodalo presented a voter’s card with VIN no. 90FS B195 4629 6818 630 purported to have been issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having been registered at Unit 3 Idiror-Idirior Primary School in Ewohinmi Ward 1 in Esan SouthEast Local Government Area of Edo State, whereas he claimed to have transferred same from Lagos to Edo and such a card or registration is not found in any of the INEC Register (CTC copy attached herewith).”

Tenebe added, “That a certified true copy of the voter register obtained from the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) revealed that the said Asuerinme Ighodalo is not a registered voter in Unit 3 of Ward 1 in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State as claimed (also attached herewith).”

The APC acting chairman firmly asserted his belief that the voter card being displayed by Ighodalo was forged.

In response, Rev Olu Martins, Deputy Director, Media and Publicity of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, countered, stating, “The case is subjudice because one of the aspirants, Anselm Ojezua, is in court on the same issue. The APC acting chairman is interested in headlines. It is only INEC that can say that its document has been forged because it has the power to prosecute. People should not take him seriously.”

He continued, “The same Tenebe a few months ago accused his now-newfound friend, the impeached former deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, of stealing his wristwatch. What he is doing is to divert people from focusing on their incapable and incompetent governorship candidate.”