By Ebitonye Akpodigha
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, has refuted an allegation made by candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu that the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, was in the Edo State for the governorship election held on Wednesday.
In a statement issued by Mr Ayorinde, he described the allegations by the PDP candidate as reckless and disgraceful.
According to the Commissioner, Mr Ambode was not in the state for the poll with his Kaduna State counterpart, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, as alleged.
He said the Governor left the state before the election day, adding that Mr Ambode is presently overseas for an official assignment.
“The Lagos State Governor served as the chairman Campaign Council constituted by the All Progressives Congress and his duty ended 24 hours before the election because no campaign was supposed to hold 24 hours to the election and having completed his assignment which included appearing with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Grand Rally in Edo State earlier in the month, Governor Ambode has no reason to return to Edo State on election day and for this sort of lie to have been peddled by a candidate who is supposed to be a pastor, is reckless and disgraceful,” Mr Ayorinde said in the statement.
He further said Mr Ambode had clearly enumerated his position on the election during the Grand Finale of the campaign when he said that like Lagos where continuity has moved perfectly well, Edo State also deserves continuity in governance.
That message, Mr Ayorinde said, has been passed and has been accepted by majority of Edo indigenes and therefore there would not be any need for the Governor to return to Edo on election day.
Adedapo Adesanya