Edo Decides 2020: APC Accuses Obaseki Of Obtaining N1.5bn Loan To Buy Votes

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state has accused the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Godwin Obaseki of obtaining approval from a faction of the State Assembly to borrow the sum of N1.5bn from commercial banks to buy votes at the state's governorship election.

Making this allegation in a statement, the Chairman, Media Sub-Committee of the APC campaign council, John Mayaki who said that Governor Obaseki had depleted the state's treasury with his constant illegal withdrawals also accused the governor of paying the sum of N15bn to get the party's Governorship ticket.

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This allegation is coming 15 days to the state governorship election.

 “After depleting the treasury of Edo State with his constant illegal withdrawals, most notably the N15bn payment to the PDP leadership of tax-collectors for his re-election ticket on the platform of the divided party, the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki is now finalising plans to obtain a N1.5bn loan from a commercial bank for the sole purpose of vote-buying on the 19th of September,” Mayaki said.

According to Mayaki,  the Governor Nyesom Wike-led PDP campaign council had  relocated to Benin “to smoothen the PDP’s vote-buying plot” in the State.”

 “Mr. Nyesom Wike, who desperately wants his newly-acquired stooge to remain at the helm for another four years so he can serve him well in a mulled ambition further down the road, has directed that other PDP governors commit more funds to a designed vote-buying plot and relocate temporarily to Benin City to monitor the disbursement of the funds and execution of the illegal plan.”

Responding to the claims made by APC, Chris Nehikhare the State Publicity Secretary of PDP said his party has never engaged in such an enterprise as it had always relied on its popularity to win elections.

“There is no iota of truth in this claim. How do you buy votes? We have never undertaken such an enterprise and have always relied on our popularity and the people of Edo State for support to win elections.

“The PDP National Campaign Council from the inception of the campaign has always said they will give logistic and moral support to the party in Edo State for this election,” he said.