On-air personality Rufai Oseni has challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State to provide evidence that he created and shared an infographic allegedly showing Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Governorship candidate for the party, running away from speaking to the media.

Oseni's statement comes in response to claims made by the APC through a statement from Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah, Director of the APC New Media Directorate, accusing the journalist of starting a smear campaign aimed at damaging Okpebholo's reputation and undermining the party's candidate.

In a post addressing the statement released by the APC in Edo State, Oseni wrote on X: "I challenge the APC to prove that the supposed infographic depicting their candidate in the Edo gubernatorial elections running away originated from me, as they falsely claimed in their press release."

This dispute has sparked tension between the broadcaster and the ruling political party.

Read the statement by the APC below

APC New Media Campaign Council Responds to Rufai Oseni and Arise TV’s Misleading Narrative

Press Release

The APC New Media Directorate strongly condemns the recent actions and statements by Arise TV anchor, Rufai Oseni, and the station's portrayal of our candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, through a misleading infographic depicting him as "running" from an interview. This deliberate attempt to smear Senator Okpebholo's reputation is not only unprofessional but reeks of a biased agenda designed to belittle our candidate.

Let us make it clear: Senator Okpebholo has no obligation to grant an interview to a platform that has already shown its hand in trying to ridicule him. Rufai Oseni’s claim that his invitation to our candidate is being "politicized" is nothing but a diversion from the real issue—his lack of impartiality and professional ethics.

Rufai Oseni has compared Senator Okpebholo’s decision to decline an interview with Arise TV to other candidates who have appeared on the station. However, the circumstances are different. We cannot ignore the fact that Oseni's tone and approach have consistently been confrontational when addressing issues related to the APC. It is therefore not surprising that Senator Okpebholo would choose to avoid an interview that seems to have been set up as a trap rather than an opportunity for genuine discourse.

If Arise TV and Rufai Oseni are so eager to have Senator Okpebholo on their platform, perhaps they should consider compensating him with a sum of $1 million. Only then might he entertain the notion of subjecting himself to what we can only describe as an act of media bullying. The integrity and principles of our candidate are not for sale, but such an offer might at least demonstrate a seriousness on their part that has thus far been sorely lacking.

We advise Rufai Oseni to revisit the ethics of his profession and refrain from further attempts to manipulate public perception for personal or political gain. His assertion that interviewing the APC candidate is "no big deal" is an understatement; it is a big deal when the interviewer is already seen as biased and partial.

To the general public, we urge caution in consuming content from media outlets that prioritize sensationalism over substance. Senator Monday Okpebholo continues to engage with the people of Edo State directly, sharing his vision and policies for the future. He will not be deterred by attempts to undermine his campaign through media antics.

Signed:

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah
Director, APC New Media Directorate

I will like to challenge the APC to prove that the purported infographic depicting their candidate in the Edo gubernatorial elections running away emanated from me, because they lied in their press release that i made an infographic.

— oseni rufai (@ruffydfire) August 12, 2024