Edo election: Ambode not in Edo, says LASG

The Lagos State Government has debunked the allegation that its governor, Mr  Akinwunmi Ambode, was in Edo during Wednesday’s governorship election in the state.

It said in a statement issued by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde on Wednesday in Lagos that the governor was presently out of the country on an official appointment.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election, Mr  Osagie Ize-Iyamu had alleged that Ambode and his Kaduna state counterpart, Malam Nasir el Rufai, were in Edo for the election.

In the statement, Lagos government said that the governor had no business being in Edo on the day of election.

“The governor served as Chairman, Campaign Council constituted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his duty ended 24 hours before the election because no campaign was supposed to hold a day to the election.

“Having completed his assignment which included appearing with President Muhammadu Buhari at the grand rally in Edo earlier in the month, Ambode has no reason to return to the state on election day,” it said.

It stated that Ambode clearly enumerated his position on the election during the finale of the campaign when he said that like Lagos where continuity had moved perfectly, Edo also deserved continuity in governance.

“That message 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 date.

“The general public and security operatives are hereby advised to ignore the desperate lies of Ize-Iyamu,’’ the statement said.