Ahead of the Edo State governorship election, some All Progressives Congress (APC) officials said on Tuesday that the recent actions of governor Godwin Obaseki and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders demonstrated a panic in their camp.

In a statement, the leaders accused Governor Obaseki, the state's Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP, and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, of funding a smear campaign against the APC's governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

The men, who are members of the APC Vanguard, claimed that the PDP, Obaseki, and Ighodalo have suddenly grown desperate, fearing a devastating defeat in the impending governorship election.

A group, Network of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, recently held a press conference and also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), among others, over claims that Okpebholo sprayed the naira at a public function.

In a statement signed by the national coordinator of the Vanguard, David Osarobo, the leaders wondered why “desperate Obaseki and his political godson, Ighodalo”, will resort to character assassination in order to score cheap political points.

He said leaders of the civil society were heavily induced to tarnish the image of Okpebholo, whose popularity they said, has hit the roofs since his emergence as the candidate of the APC.

Osarobo said: “Godwin Obaseki, the crisis-ridden PDP and their novice candidate, Ighodalo, have decided to resort to cheap blackmail. They know that they will lose the election and they are jittery.

“They are scouting for fake news and non-existent things to blackmail Okpebholo and lie to Edo people.

“Unfortunately for them, we know what they are up to. They are smelling the defeat already. Edo people have already decided and no amount of State-sponsored intimidation will work.

"The APC administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Edo State is working. The Federal Government is rebuilding federal highways in Edo Central, North, and South. The APC-led Federal Government intends to establish additional social assistance programs in Edo State.

"That is why Edo people must support the APC and vote for Okpebholo as Edo State's next governor.

"There's no going back. We must free Edo State from the clutches of mini-tyrants and economic scavengers who seek to profit themselves by exploiting our commonwealth. Edo State deserves a home-grown solution to the numerous issues caused by Obaseki's inexperienced administration."