The acting chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to take legal action against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for purportedly falsifying his voter’s card.
In a letter dated July 3rd, Tenebe, acting as a concerned voter and a law-abiding Nigerian citizen, expressed his concerns about the implications of allowing an ineligible individual to run for election or be elected. He alleged that Ighodalo had presented counterfeit documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the public.
Emperor Jarret Tenebe’s call for the arrest and prosecution of Asue Ighodalo rests on the accusation that the PDP candidate falsified his voter’s card. Tenebe, in his capacity as a citizen and voter, highlighted the potential consequences of permitting an unqualified person to partake in the electoral process or hold office. According to Tenebe, Ighodalo is believed to have submitted forged documentation to both INEC and the public.
He wrote in his petition:
“That the said Asuerinme Ighodalo has also presented same documents with a view of misleading the general public to rely on same to be true in claiming his party ticket based on a fraudulent and crooked foundation.
“That the said Asuerinme Ighodalo presented a voter’s card with VIN no. 90FS B195 4629 6818 630 purported to have been issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having been registered at Unit 3 Idiror-Idirior Primary School in Ewohinmi Ward 1 in Esan SouthEast Local Government Area of Edo State, whereas he claimed to have transferred same from Lagos to Edo and such a card or registration is not found in any of the INEC Register (CTC copy attached herewith).
“That a certified true copy of the voter register obtained from the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) revealed that the said Asuerinme Ighodalo is not a registered voter in Unit 3 of Ward 1 in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State as claimed (also attached herewith).”
“The APC acting chairman is interested in headlines. It is only INEC that can say that its document has been forged because it has the power to prosecute. People should not take him seriously.
“The same Tenebe a few months ago accused his now-newfound friend, the impeached former deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, of stealing his wristwatch.
“What he is doing is to divert people from focusing on their incapable and incompetent governorship candidate.”
