Mayaki’s apology indicates APC ran Edo 2020 campaigns on alternative truth – PDP

Nathan Tamarapreye

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo has said that the recent apology by the All Progressives Congress (APC) over some of its statements during the Edo 2020 governorship election campaigns was an admittance that APC ran its Edo 2020 campaigns on alternative truth.

This was contained in a statement on Monday by the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Chris Nehikhare.

Chairman Media Campaign Council of the APC in the Edo 2020 governorship election campaigns, Mr John Mayaki, had on Friday apologised to the Akwa-Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) over alleged wrongful accusation.

According to Nehikhare, the apology by Mayaki was an open admission of the fact that APC ran its campaign on fake news, lies, alternative truth and other variants of fabrication.

This, he said, was to hoodwink unsuspecting members of the public to buy into the APC ominous quest to mortgage the collective patrimony of Edo people.

Mayaki in a statement titled, “Mike Igini I got it wrong” published by several conventional and online media platforms had apologised to the Akwa-Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

The statement had read in parts: “As the year winds down, I have spent some past few days reflecting on my activities as a professional journalist conducting credibility, integrity and fact checks on some of the statements I authored and have therefore stumbled on some embarrassing ones.

“Among these is this particular one,“APC accuses INEC REC, Mike Igini of colluding with Obaseki over secret night meeting,” with a rider: “REC left Governor’s residence with sacks of money.

“This is an embarrassment even to my humble self, I must quickly admit, as the story proved fatally wrong and unable to pass credibility check.

“As a Christian, I strive daily to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men and I am willing to apologise to whomsoever I may have offended in the course of my duties, knowingly and or unknowingly.”

The PDP therefore called on the candidate of the APC in the last governorship election, the party’s ex-National Chairman as well as its former factional state chairman to also apologise to Edo people.

“Since Mayaki has owned up to the antics of the APC during the governorship election, it is only proper for his paymasters to take responsibility for prodding Mayaki and his ilk to take on such ignominious role of advancing the interest of APC through such schemes.

“Upon chancing on the statement, I drew the attention of the Edo governor, who was the target of attacks by the APC in the election, to the statement and its submissions.

“The Governor in his usual good nature as a person who does not bear grudges against people, accepted the apology and said he has forgiven John Mayaki.

“Though the governor has taken his stand on the matter, Edo people who are lovers of truth and honour, demand that the puppet masters behind Mayaki and his ilk admit to the fact that they had in that election elected to take Edo people for a ride in trying to hoodwink them with fables and fabrications to advance their personal and collective interest”, Nehikhare said.