By Thompson Eferakeya

In the annals of Nigeria’s turbulent political history, few moments have seen the level of shameless disinformation and propaganda that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State is currently peddling.

What should be a solemn moment for reflection, accountability, and justice following the highly controversial September 2024 governorship election has instead become a theatre of lies orchestrated by the APC, pushing its deception to new and unprecedented levels.
Their latest stunt? Gaslighting the public and projecting onto the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) all of the sins of which they are the true perpetrators.

In a recent press conference, carried by Arise News, APC Edo Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, took the disinformation campaign to its nadir. In a bizarre display of reverse psychology, Tenebe accused the PDP of engaging in exactly the kinds of obstruction, intimidation, and attacks for which the APC has been solely responsible. The audacity of this gaslighting strategy is breathtaking, but it’s not new; it’s simply the latest act in the APC’s longstanding plan to subvert democracy in Edo State.

The APC’s message has been clear from day one: run out the clock, delay justice, and stonewall the PDP’s access to critical election materials. Their actions speak volumes. From spurious petitions and frivolous motions to deliberate obstruction of access to election equipment such as the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS), the APC’s objective has been singular—deny the PDP the evidence it needs to expose the fraudulent results of the September election.

It’s a classic case of projection. When APC supporters and hired thugs intimidate, obstruct, and daily sow chaos at the INEC office in Benin, they turn around and accuse the PDP of doing the very same thing.

As the Yoruba saying goes, ai tete m’ole, ole m’oloko, a reference to a stunned farmer hearing a thief he has surprised in the act, scream “Ole!” as he’s clutching stolen yams.

Let’s not forget, this is the same APC whose operatives have been openly coordinating with elements within the security forces to block PDP access to vital election materials, even in the face of a tribunal order.

In the Arise News report, Tenebe went as far as to claim that PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo and Governor Godwin Obaseki were orchestrating violence at INEC’s office, citing an alleged gun attack that conveniently fits into their carefully crafted narrative of victimhood. Yet, there has been no independent verification of this supposed attack, and Tenebe’s story feels suspiciously timed to coincide with APC’s own obstructionist maneuvers.

What we are witnessing is the intentional muddying of the waters, so that by the time the PDP secures the evidence it needs, public fatigue has set in, and justice slips a little further out of reach.

APC’s strategy is clear: delay, deflect, and discredit. Delay access to BVAS and other critical materials, ensuring the PDP’s window for redress is squeezed down to the last possible moment. Deflect attention from their own misdeeds by crying foul and accusing the PDP of the very same actions they are guilty of. And, finally, discredit the PDP’s legal challenge by injecting confusion into the process, making it seem like all parties are guilty of equal misconduct. This trifecta of tactics is a well-worn page from the autocrat’s handbook, but it’s being deployed here with such brazen disregard for truth that it’s hard not to be shocked.

But make no mistake: this is not just a political game; it’s a full-scale assault on democracy itself. When a party as powerful as the APC stoops to such tactics, the fabric of our electoral system is at risk of tearing apart. The free expression of the people’s will is being undermined, and the APC is fully aware of it. Their refusal to play by the rules, to respect tribunal orders, and to allow the PDP fair access to election materials is not just a political maneuver—it’s a declaration of war on the democratic process.

Let’s call this for what it is. The APC in Edo is engaged in a campaign of deceit and manipulation the likes of which we have not seen in recent times. Their goal is not just to win at the tribunal but to poison the well of public opinion so thoroughly that truth becomes indistinguishable from falsehood. In this distorted reality, victims become perpetrators, and the pursuit of justice becomes a dangerous, even criminal, endeavor.

It’s time for Nigerians, both in Edo and beyond, to wake up to the APC’s dangerous game. The stakes are too high to allow these lies to fester unchallenged. We must stand in solidarity with the PDP and all those fighting for the restoration of a stolen mandate. The tactics of the APC should serve as a warning to us all: democracy is fragile, and if we don’t fight to protect it, those with the loudest lies will win.

The tribunal process remains our best hope for uncovering the truth, and we must remain vigilant. The APC’s propaganda machine may be working overtime, but the facts remain on the side of those fighting for justice. The real perpetrators of electoral fraud and intimidation must be held accountable, and no amount of gaslighting can change that.

History will not be kind to those who attempt to subvert the will of the people, and the APC’s reckless disinformation campaign will be remembered as one of the darkest moments in Edo State’s political history. Let’s ensure that the truth prevails, and that the voices of Edo’s people are not drowned out by the deafening roar of lies.

… Eferakeya, a public affairs analyst, writes from Benin City.