The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the upcoming September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the former Governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, to retract the malicious and defamatory statements made against him on national television.
Naija News reported that Oshiomhole had, during an interview on Arise TV, described Ighodalo as unelectable, unable to speak his language and lacks the qualities necessary for the Edo people to elect him as Governor.
In a letter dated August 12, 2024 by his lawyers, Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, Ighodalo said Oshiomhole made wild and unsubstantiated claims about the status of his candidacy.
Ighodalo stated that when cautioned by the moderators of the programme, Oshiomhole maintained his claims and made other derogatory remarks about him, thus directly attacking his person, reputation and integrity.
The PDP gubernatorial candidate asked the Senator to tender public and private apologies to him, which must also be published in two specific national dailies, the Vanguard and ThisDay Newspapers.
He added that the failure of the Senator to meet his demands would leave him with no option but to institute a N20 billion suit against him for damages without any further notice.
The letter read in part: “On or about 7th day of August 2024, our client’s attention was drawn to widely circulated statements made by you while being interviewed on a National Television Station, Arise News, during its Morning Show Program, touching and concerning our clients. These statements have also been widely circulated on various social media platforms including ‘X’ (formally called Twitter), ‘WhatsApp’ and ‘Facebook’ and others.”