The All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Edo State has challenged politicians alleging attacks by its members or supporters to produce evidence before security agencies. This warning comes ahead of the 2027 elections and aims to curb the manufacture of incidents to attract public sympathy. The APC stated that allegations involving firearms are too serious to be reduced to political theatre.
The warning was triggered by the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s allegation that gunmen opened fire on the convoy of its Edo Central senatorial candidate, Herberta Okonofua, and party chieftain, Kenneth Imansuangbon, in Igueben Local Government Area. The ADC claimed that a supporter, Jerry Oliha, sustained gunshot wounds and was taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital. The ADC accused Igueben council chairman, Endurance Azemegbe, of leading the alleged attackers.
Endurance Azemegbe denied involvement, stating he was not in Igueben when the incident allegedly occurred. The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, initially stated that the command could not confirm the incident and would investigate once formally reported. The APC campaign council maintained that allegations involving firearms require evidence and should not be treated as political theatre.
The APC campaign council, in a statement signed by its Director of Media, John Mayaki, warned that the ruling party should not be blamed for every arrest, quarrel, or community dispute in the state. The council emphasized that evidence is essential to establish claims of attacks and that drama is not a substitute for evidence.
The council urged politicians to take personal grievances to the appropriate authorities rather than turning them into allegations against the APC. They also stated that Governor Monday Okpebholo would not tolerate criminality or acts capable of undermining the state’s peace, irrespective of the political affiliation of those involved.
The APC campaign council warned that deliberately fabricating or staging attacks to create fear, mislead the public, or gain political sympathy could attract legal consequences. They emphasized that political sympathy cannot be built on manufactured victimhood and that criminal allegations should not be reduced to campaign propaganda.
The council added that the electorate is watching, the police can investigate, and facts have a way of exposing fiction. They called for investigations to establish the origin of any recovered ammunition, who fired it, and the circumstances surrounding the incident. The APC seeks to ensure that politicians provide credible evidence for their claims.
Key points
- The Edo APC has challenged politicians to provide evidence for alleged attacks by its members or supporters.
- The warning aims to curb the manufacture of incidents to attract public sympathy ahead of the 2027 elections.
- The APC emphasizes that allegations involving firearms require evidence and should not be treated as political theatre.
