According to Vanguard, Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have accused Governor Godwin Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, of sponsoring a smear campaign against the APC's governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. The leaders, part of the APC Vanguard, claim that a faceless group, Network of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, recently held a press conference and petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over false claims that Okpebholo sprayed Naira notes at a public function.
The group, in a statement by David Osarobo, questioned why Obaseki and Ighodalo would resort to character assassination, given Okpebholo's spotless record as a private and public person. They denied that Okpebholo ever sprayed or mutilated the Naira, and insisted that the video being shared on social media by PDP members does not belong to him.
The group pointed out that Okpebholo has never been arrested or charged with any civil or criminal offense in his over 50 years, and wondered why the PDP would fabricate fake news to tarnish his image ahead of the election, where he is favored to win.
They warned those behind the petition and state agents to apologize for misleading the people of Edo and called on the IGP to investigate and prosecute those behind the petition. Osarobo stated that Obaseki, the PDP, and Ighodalo are jittery and resorting to cheap blackmail because they know they will lose the election. He added that Edo people have already made up their minds, and no amount of state-sponsored intimidation will work.