CurrentReport Blog In a dramatic turn of events ahead of the Edo State gubernatorial elections, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, acting chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urging for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate. Tenebe alleges that Ighodalo forged his voter’s card and presented misleading documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the public.
In his letter dated July 3rd, Tenebe stated, “I am petitioning as a concerned voter and a law-abiding citizen whose interests are directly affected if a non-qualified person is allowed to participate or be elected.” He further claims that Ighodalo’s voter’s card, purportedly transferred from Lagos to Edo State, does not match records from INEC’s certified voter register, suggesting it is fraudulent.
Tenebe emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, asserting that the integrity of the electoral process is at stake if such malpractices are tolerated. “I believe the voter card being paraded by Ighodalo is forged,” he declared in his petition.
Reacting to these accusations, Rev Olu Martins, Deputy Director of Media and Publicity for the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, countered by stating, “The case is subjudice due to ongoing litigation involving another aspirant on similar grounds.” Martins dismissed Tenebe’s claims as a distraction tactic, suggesting that only INEC has the authority to validate allegations of document forgery.
