The All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted that Senator Monday Okpebholo is still its candidate for the governorship election in Edo State on Saturday.
The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka clarified the position of the party in a statement from Abuja in the early hours of Saturday.
According to Morka, the clarification is very important after fake news emerged that a magistrate court had disqualified Okpebholo from contesting.
“In the final hours of the Edo gubernatorial election scheduled to hold Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, certain political parties have desperately resorted to forgery and disinformation on our candidate,” he said.
“The blackmail is to the extent of circulating a fake magistrate court ruling purportedly disqualifying Sen.Okpebholo, the APC gubernatorial candidate in the election.
“The circulated ruling is fake, a fabrication and an act of pure desperation in the face of their imminent defeat at the polls,” Morka said.
He said the magistrate court that purportedly issued the fake ruling had issued a disclaimer, stating categorically that it did not emanate from him.
Morka added that the fake ruling meant to sow seeds of doubt about the APC candidate, was a blatant and calculated attempt to subvert the will of the Edo electorate.
“We call on our law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and bring the perpetrators of this falsehood to book,” he said.
He, therefore, urged Edo voters to remain vigilant and resolute in the exercise of their democratic rights at the polls.
He expressed trust that Edo people would ignore this and other illegal devices by desperate candidates and their parties to subvert the election.
“Sen. Monday Okpebholo is and remains, the standard bearer of the APC in Edo gubernatorial election,” Morka stated.
