The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has expressed concerns over the potential bias of the Police in the upcoming governorship election, citing the arrest and detention of at least 10 PDP chieftains, including the serving Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Collins Aigbogun.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, leader of the PDP in Edo State, met with the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, and expressed worries about the Police’s actions, which he believes are in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obaseki demanded the immediate unconditional release of the arrested PDP chieftains and queried how the PDP could sign a peace accord with an umpire that has shown bias.
The PDP chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, also raised concerns over the deployment of associates of former Governor Nyesom Wike as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and Commissioner of Police in Edo State, citing their close links to Wike and potential bias.
According to him, “You are very conversant with the politics of Edo State. You were here in 2020 and we had a very heated election. You know this is an off-circle election and there is a lot of attention.
“Unlike 2020, I am very worried about the developments in the State today. The party met yesterday and we might not likely sign this agreement. This is the first time we are witnessing that the person who is supposed to keep and enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.
“The opposition party in the State, the APC has always argued that they may not be as popular and didn’t win in the last election but however promised to use Federal might to determine the outcome of the election.”
He added: “We thought it’s just rhetoric but in the last four weeks, we’ve had a situation where from the office of the IGP, armed gang policemen have come into Edo State to invade, arrest and take away PDP members.
“As we speak there are 10 PDP members arrested and detained in Abuja without trial. Two days ago, they came to pick up a local government chairman. The Chairman was going back home and was attacked and shot at. We reported and the police asked him to come and give evidence, he came and was arrested. As I speak, he is in Abuja.
“Even if an offence has been committed in Edo State, why will you not charge the offences and try them here in the State? Why take them to Abuja, are the offences of high treason? Why not charge them to court?
“The IGP’s office came in, issued a warrant to arrest 60 PDP supporters, driving all our leaders into hiding. My role as the Chief Security Officer of the State is being made nonsense of by the IGP.
“I heard somebody was arrested and I called the Commissioner to inform him. He said he would come back to me only to hear that he moved the person to Abuja.
“Tell me, sir, how can we sign a peace accord in this situation? Clearly, what they are saying is that it’s going to be a violent election and that they are going to use the forces of coercion and intimidation to win elections in Edo whether we like it or not.
“That is the message. Now that the IGP is in town, we say until everybody arrested is brought back to Edo and tried here in Edo for whatever offences they have committed, we have no confidence that the police will protect us in Edo State during the Governorship election.” Obaseki said.