As the Edo State governorship election approaches, the political landscape has heated up with a significant legal battle. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the September 21 election, has filed a N20 billion lawsuit against Senator Adams Oshiomhole. The lawsuit stems from allegations that Oshiomhole made defamatory comments about Ighodalo’s involvement in a scheme known as “Planwell.”

Ighodalo’s legal team, led by Ayo Asala (SAN), claims that Oshiomhole’s statements are false and malicious. They are demanding that Oshiomhole publicly retract his comments and issue an apology. This retraction and apology should be made on at least two national TV networks and in three major newspapers.

According to Ighodalo, Oshiomhole’s allegations are not only baseless but are also part of a pattern of false statements aimed at damaging his reputation for political gain. The accusations were reportedly made during a campaign rally on September 14, 2024, and were widely broadcast and shared on social media.

Ighodalo’s legal team argues that these false claims have significantly harmed his public image and are intended to undermine his candidacy as Oshiomhole’s party faces dwindling fortunes in the upcoming election. They have warned that failure to retract the statements could lead to further legal actions.

As the legal proceedings unfold, all eyes will be on how this dispute affects the political dynamics in Edo State ahead of the gubernatorial election.