The "Off the Mic" incident in the Nigerian Senate and the controversy surrounding APC's gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, highlight broader issues in Nigerian politics. The Senate incident, where a senator's allegations about budget padding were stifled, demonstrates a troubling tendency to suppress dissent and avoid transparency.

The controversy raises serious concerns about the party's attempt to foist an unqualified and inarticulate candidate on the people of Edo State. The drama began when Arise Television invited Okpebholo for an interview, which his handlers have consistently evaded, offering flimsy excuses. Okpebholo's handlers have resorted to bizarre excuses to prevent him from speaking publicly, raising suspicions about his ability to lead Edo State effectively.

The APC's handling of Monday Okpebholo’s media appearances reflects a lack of confidence in their candidate's ability to engage with the public effectively. The excuses provided for Okpebholo’s absence from important media interviews, such as the claim about Edo people’s internet access, seem disingenuous given the contradictory statistics from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, which shows that Edo State has one of the highest internet subscription rates in the country.

The APC's justification that a candidate doesn't need to be articulate to be governor is unconvincing, especially given the party's previous experience with an inarticulate president. Okpebholo's candidacy has exposed the APC as a party of illiterate handymen and political thugs who rely on criminal means to seize power.

These actions suggest a broader pattern within the APC of prioritizing political maneuvering over substantive engagement with the electorate.

Edo people are intelligent and can see through the APC's attempt to sneak an unqualified candidate into government house. They must reject this error and soundly defeat the APC and Okpebholo at the polls on September 22 to avoid another round of hardship and misrule.