Presidency respond to alleged plans to use NSA office, DSS to influence Edo election

The Presidency has refuted claims made by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that the government of President Bola Tinubu intends to utilise state apparatus to rig the election and guarantee the All Progressives Congress’s, APC, triumph in the next Edo State gubernatorial contest.
Anthony Aziegbemi, the chairman of the PDP in Edo State, had claimed that the president planned to support Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC in the September 21 poll by using the Department of State Services, DSS, and the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.
The NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, responded by disputing the allegations, calling them “baseless” and at odds with Ribadu’s reputation through the counsel of Charles Musa & Co.
Temitope Ajayi, the President’s Senior Special Assistant for Media and Publicity, refuted the claims in an interview with Daily Trust on Monday.
Ajayi said, “There is no truth in such a claim. President Tinubu will not lend his presidency to any illegality or anything that compromises the integrity of our elections. He is an avowed democrat.”
Ajayi also cast doubt on the opposition’s importance by claiming that a large number of PDP leaders in Edo State had already joined the APC.
Addressing the role of security agencies, Ajayi concluded, “The DSS and NSA work for the security and preservation of the country. Such important institutions can never be used to subvert the electoral process or democracy under any guise.”
In a statement dated September 14, Aziegbemi accused the federal government of planning to rig the upcoming Edo governorship election with Ribadu and the State Security Service’s involvement.
He alleged that Ribadu had provided $2 million to the APC governorship candidate as part of the Scheme.
Ribadu’s legal team, Charles Musa & Co, has dismissed the accusation as “entirely false” and is demanding an immediate retraction.

source: all news.com

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