ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has attacked Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo State Governor, over claims by the later that Governors contribute to electoral violence in the country.
The attack came on a day the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), cautioned against election rigging and the use of thugs during the forthcoming general elections.
The forum also lamented that the Federal Government is too slow in curtailing terrorism in the country.
Speaking yesterday at its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Kaduna, ACF’s chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the election is of great concern to ACF and prayed that Nigerians will elect leaders of their choice in 2023.
“We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and security agencies to ensure law and order during the election. We are hoping and praying to Almighty God to give us the opportunity to elect leaders of our choice who will be the best materials to govern Nigeria,” Ogbeh said.
Meanwhile, Oshiomhole who is the Deputy Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, of All Progressives Congress, (APC), had at a citizens’ election dialogue on the theme, ’’What makes a good election in Nigeria,” in Abuja on Tuesday, blamed governors for electoral violence witnessed in past elections.
Oshiomhole, who noted that governors funded thugs to perpetrate violence during polls, urged political leaders to support the efforts of security operatives to ensure the 2023 elections are violence-free.
The APC chieftain also called for synergy among the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, political leaders, and security agencies.
“We must also know that we (political leaders) have a role to play. If I go to my polling unit and say ‘it’s not a do-or-die affair, let the people vote freely’ and Dino (Melaye) says the same thing in his unit, our followers will not resort to violence,” he said.
The ex-Governor noted that the weapons used by disruptors could not be easily obtained, and lauded the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in tackling the nation’s security challenges.
He also praised the President Muhammadu Buhari for telling world leaders during the last United National General Assembly in New York of his administration’s commitment to conduct a free and fair election in 2023.
But Governor Okowa, who is also the presidential running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2023 elections, said he doesn’t know what Oshiomhole is talking about.
He argued that Governors never participated in electoral violence, saying maybe, Oshiomhole did during his tenure as governor of Edo State.
Replying the former Edo Eovernor yesterday, Governor Okowa said: “We don’t perpetrate electoral violence.”
Speaking through his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, Okowa said: “Perhaps that was what he did when he was Governor.
“I think Oshiomhole is in a better position to explain that. Oshiomhole is a former governor. I don’t know whether he perpetrated electoral violence when he was governor.
“Oshiomhole should think of managing the abysmal performance of the APC, rather than trying to distract us with such accusations; he should come to the right lane.”
When contacted on the allegation, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), declined comments saying that it does not play politics
The Media and Public Affairs of the NGF Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, said: “Sorry, the NGF does not discuss or engage in politics. It operates on six core mandate areas, which include agric, education, security, infrastructure, health and policy,”
Source: Vanguard.