A group, Esan Professionals For Progress has commended Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the upcoming Edo governorship election, following his decision to take legal action against Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
The move comes after Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and the current senator representing Edo North senatorial district, made false and defamatory statements about Ighodalo during a national television appearance.
The group lauded Ighodalo’s decision to stand up against what they described as a dangerous trend of misinformation in politics.
“Asue Ighodalo’s decision to sue Senator Oshiomhole is not only a defence of personal integrity but also a powerful stand against the dangerous trend of misinformation and character assassination that has plagued our political discourse,” the statement signed by the coordinator of the group, Kingsley Akhigbe, read.
The controversy began when Oshiomhole appeared on Arise News, where he allegedly made “reckless and unfounded statements” regarding Ighodalo’s candidacy.
Despite being cautioned by the program’s moderators, Oshiomhole reportedly continued to spread what Ighodalo’s legal team has described as “baseless claims,” which they argue were designed to undermine Ighodalo’s reputation.
In response, Ighodalo, through his legal team, Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, issued a letter on August 12, 2024, demanding that Oshiomhole retract his statements within seven days and issue a private and public apology.
The letter specified that the apologies should be published in prominent national dailies, Vanguard and ThisDay Newspapers, and on Arise TV.
According to the lawyers, failure to comply with the demands would result in a N20 billion lawsuit against the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
“The Esan Professionals For Progress fully supports Ighodalo’s stance and views this lawsuit as a necessary step to uphold the principles of truth, accountability, and respect in our political environment.”
“The deliberate spread of falsehoods and the attempt to undermine a candidate’s integrity on a national platform is a form of injustice that must be confronted.”
“Edo State deserves better, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that truth and justice prevail in our electoral processes. We stand with Asue Ighodalo in this noble cause and urge all Edo citizens to do the same,” the group stated.
