The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to make himself available for a public debate ahead of the election.

The national publicity secretary of PDP, Hon Debo Ologungaba, said Okpebholo has been avoiding the media and town hall engagements with the people of Edo State.L because he is “afraid to be confronted with the issues of lack of capacity and allegations of forgery of voter card and birth documents, which he has failed to respond to.”

In a chat with journalists in Abuja, Ologungaba said APC leaders like Senator Adams Oshiomhole, resorted to “peddling lies and falsely claiming that the PDP candidate has been disqualified,” because of Okpebholo’s failing to engage in issues-based campaigns.

“You will observe that in Edo State today, it is our candidate that is campaigning. Asue Ighodalo’s popularity and acceptability by the majority of the people of Edo State have dwarfed, dumbed and incapacitated the APC and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

“Having realized that they have no prospect in the election, APC leaders like Adams Oshiomhole are now engaged in peddling lies and falsely claiming that the PDP candidate has been disqualified.

“It was a pitiable sight to watch Comrade Oshiomhole stammering on National TV when the anchors confronted him with the fact that the Court upheld the nomination of Asue Ighodalo.

“When asked to provide the judgment he referred to he looked confused and stated that he did not have it.”

Ologungaba said the Court of Appeal did not disqualify Ighodalo as PDP candidate, noting that the court, instead, upheld the primary election that produced him as candidate and awarded cost against the appellants.

“The Appeal Court by the judgement affirmed the validity of Asue Ighodalo’s PVC as already confirmed by INEC. So Asue Ighodalo is in the race, he is leading in the race and he is coasting to victory.

“On the other hand, the APC candidate Monday Okpehbolo is not campaigning or engaging the people having realizing that he is no match to Asue Ighodalo as he lacks capacity, competence and has nothing to offer to the people of Edo State.

“No wonder the APC candidate has been avoiding the media and town hall engagements with the people of Edo State. He is afraid to be confronted with the issues of lack of capacity and allegations of forgery of voter card and birth documents, which he has failed to respond to.

“We challenge the APC candidate to make himself available to media interview and scrutiny. If Monday Okpebholo is indeed putting himself for public office, he should make himself available for public scrutiny.

“We understand the APC candidate has been invited to appear on a particular national TV tomorrow, Monday and it is incumbent on him to honour that invitation.

“Monday Okpebholo should stop running from the media if he has anything to offer to the good people of Edo State. PDP insists that Okpebholo should make himself available for a public debate.”