Edo 2020: Presidency Accepts Ize-Iyamu Is Corrupt – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the presidency statement on its condemnation of the visit of Osagie Ize-Iyamu to President Muhammadu Buhari is an acceptance that the APC candidate is corrupt.

Naija News reports that Buhari had on Friday endorsed Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Edo State Governorship election.

Following the endorsement at the Presidential Villa, the PDP had condemned Buhari for backing a candidate that his administration is probing for corruption.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Saturday called on the PDP to sack its governors and senators before it would be taken seriously.

The presidency stated that the APC was innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.

Reacting in a statement, spokesperson of the PDP, Kola Ologbodiyan, pointed out that the response by the Presidency reinforced allegations by the sacked national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, that Ize-Iyamu is a person of questionable character who is unfit to hold office as governor of Edo state.

The opposition party stated that by defending the APC candidate the Buhari administration has confirmed that it is not fighting corruption, contrary to its promises, but had become a safe haven for corrupt persons.

“By its response, the Buhari Presidency has turned itself into a defender of corruption and advocate for persons charged for corrupt acts in our country.

“Yet, this is Presidency that claimed to have zero tolerance for corruption; pretended that it cannot eat with corrupt people with the longest of spoons, only to be found struggling to justify why it is swimming in an ocean of corruption.

“Moreover, beyond the case in court, this is an individual, that APC former national chairman had openly described as a thief, treasury looter, acid bather and who, according to Oshiomhole, is only fit for “night meetings” and not for the position of the governor of Edo state.

“The PDP said such stance by the Buhari Presidency is an assault on the sensibilities of the people of Edo state, who have openly registered their rejection of Ize-Iyamu.

“Furthermore, our party notes the absence of President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other top officials of the APC administration at Ize-Iyamu’s campaign flag-off, apparently to dissociate themselves and the government from his baggage of corruption allegation,” the PDP stated.