The acting chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Emperor Jarret Tenebe, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest and prosecute the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for allegedly forging his voter’s card.
Tenebe made this request in a letter dated July 3rd, stating that he was acting as a concerned voter and a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria. He said that his interests would be affected if an unqualified person is allowed to run or be elected.
According to Tenebe, Ighodalo has allegedly presented fake documents to INEC and the public.
In his petition, Tenebe said: “Asuerinme Ighodalo has presented the same fake documents to mislead the public into believing that they are genuine, thus securing a party ticket based on fraudulent grounds.
Ighodalo claimed to have a voter’s card with VIN number: 90FS B195 4629 6818 630, which he said was issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He stated he was registered at Unit 3 Idiror-Idirior Primary School in Ewohinmi Ward 1, Esan SouthEast Local Government Area of Edo State, and that he transferred his registration from Lagos to Edo. However, such a card or registration is not found in any INEC records (see attached CTC copy).
A certified true copy of the voter register from INEC also shows that Asuerinme Ighodalo is not a registered voter at Unit 3 of Ward 1 in Esan SouthEast Local Government Area of Edo State, as he claims (see attached document for proof).
Tenebe believes that the voter card Ighodalo is using is fake.
Reacting to these allegations, the Deputy Director of Media and Publicity for the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, Rev. Olu Martins, said that the case was already in court because another aspirant, Anselm Ojezua, had filed a lawsuit on the same issue.
Rev. Olu Martins further commented that Tenebe seems more interested in gaining media attention. He stated that only INEC has the authority to determine whether its documents have been forged and to prosecute such cases. Therefore, people should not take Tenebe’s claims seriously.
He also pointed out that a few months ago, Tenebe accused his now-ally, former deputy governor Philip Shaibu (who had been impeached), of stealing his wristwatch.
Rev. Martins concluded by saying that Tenebe’s actions are meant to divert attention from their own party’s weak governorship candidate.