Residents woke up Sunday morning in Benin City to the troubling sight of widespread defacement and vandalization of billboards belonging to the PDP Governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
Billboards at Asoro bus stop, UNIBEN Ekenwan Campus, Agboma junction
at Ekenwan road opposite Mat-Ice, and Akenzuwa after stadium road junction were just a few of the completely seen out of many others seen in photographs.
A member of the PDP’s Media Directorate in the Edo State Campaign Council, who insisted on speaking anonymously, stated that the
vandalization had been going on for months.
“They have been damaging Dr. Asue’s billboards since immediately after he won the PDP Primaries in February, but the man is a very calm man. They are even destroying cars with AI stickers around Upper Sakponba. When we wanted to shout to the press he told us to report to the relevant authorities and replace the billboards. Even now we have been told not to react so we do not heat up the polity. Dr. Asue only wants to focus on issues, so that is what we will continue to do.”
Asked who they suspect was behind the vandalization, the source responded “we have our suspicions but mentioning names will just heighten tensions in the state. We have reported to the authorities. Let them investigate and bring the culprits to book.”
When contacted via phone, Dr. Ighodalo declined to speak on the matter. “I’m on the campaign trail my brother. Let us talk when I get back to town. My singular focus is on how to move the largest amount of Edolites into prosperity. All these other things are distractions. Let me again appeal to everyone – candidates and supporters – not to destroy our state and institutions because of politics.”
The Edo State governorship election is slated to hold on September 21st, 2024.
