The Director General of the Asue Ighodalo Campaign Team, Matthew Idoiyekemwem, has accused the Senator for Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole of electoral manipulation in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State.
Idoiyekemwem, the lead campaigner for Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleged that Oshiomhole, former Edo governor, is using his influence as a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to get victory for his party’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo.
He also called for the immediate removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha, who is related to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Idoiyekemwem made these allegations when he led a group of men to protest the situation on Sunday morning.
Though 17 candidates are jostling for the office, analysts have described the forthcoming poll as a three-horse race involving Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).
In terms of party strongholds, the APC has current senators in Edo North (Adams Oshiomhole) and Edo Central (Okpebholo) while the Labour Party’s senator Neda Imasuen is from Edo South where Akpata hails from.