Lagos State government on Wednesday dismissed allegations made by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu alleging that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his Kaduna State counterpart, Nasir el-Rufai were in Edo State for the election.
In a statement signed by Lagos commissioner for information and strategy, Steve Ayorinde, the government described the allegations by the PDP candidate as reckless and disgraceful.
Ayorinde, while clarifying the position of the government, said Governor Ambode was presently overseas for an official assignment and in any case had no business being in Edo State on election day.
“The Lagos State Governor served as the chairman Campaign Council constituted by the All Progressives Congress and his duty ended 24 hours before the election, because no campaign was supposed to hold 24 hours to the election and having completed his assignment which included appearing with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Grand Rally in Edo State earlier in the month, Governor Ambode has no reason to return to Edo State on election day and for this sort of lie to have been peddled by a candidate who is supposed to be a pastor, is reckless and disgraceful,” he said.
Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo State, has said that Nasir el-Rufai was nowhere near the state.
“This clarification is made only to affirm a material fact. But it is important to stress that the laws of this country do not prevent any citizen from being in any part of the country. While movement may be restricted on election days, that is not the same thing as construing the presence of any citizen in a state holding elections as illegal, unusual or irregular.
“A specious attempt, similar to that made by a candidate in Edo today, was made by chieftains of a political party during the last governorship election in Anambra State. During the Anambra elections, security agents tried to cast a Nigerian as alien simply for being in another state during an election. They restricted El-Rufai to his hotel room.
“El-Rufai challenged this violation of his right in court. And a court ruled in his favour. Those who are seeking power should be careful not to be violating constitutional rights in that quest. And they should not say what they do not know to be true,” a statement stated.
