Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said that the continuous arrest and attack of chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may result in crisis ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
The governor specifically accused elements within the All Progressives Congress (APC) for colluding with men of the Nigeria Police Force to hound, attack, kidnap, and lock up members of the PDP.
The governor, in a statement he personally signed, expressed worry that “In the last few weeks, the Police under the manipulation of the APC, has arrested not less than 10 PDP chieftains who they perceive would be strong political opposition to them in the coming election. "This came to a head with the arrest and whisking to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, of the serving Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Collins Aigbogun" he said.
He added that: “On learning of his arrest, I reached out to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, asking that due process be followed and that the matter be handled within the State’s jurisdiction. This directive was flouted, directly undermining my authority as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the State.
“We also have it on good authority that a rogue police team has been provided with a longlist of PDP chieftains to be arrested and detained until after the election.
“All petitions and appeals to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have not dissuaded men of the Police from going about with the mandate of intimidating members of the PDP and launching sting operations to capture, kidnap and lock up PDP chieftains across the State.”
The governor demanded the immediate unconditional release of the PDP chieftains who were arrested in gestapo style by the Police and whisked to secret holding centres.
“If these PDP leaders were legally arrested, we demand that they should be charged to courts in Benin City to answer for whatever infractions they are alleged to have committed and not to be subjected to perpetual incarceration, as now obtains.”
Obaseki also said that it has become clear “that the APC and its agents are not interested in a peaceful and credible election in Edo State. The conduct and the collusion with federal government institutions to undermine the electoral process spell a clear danger that must be averted.”
According to him, “It is with a deep sense of concern that I make this statement in the run up to the 2024 governorship election in Edo State scheduled for September 21, 2024.
“In the last few years, we have worked tirelessly to provide stability and engender reforms to spur economic development in Edo State. We have improved the security situation in the State and have, through coordinated efforts by the Edo State Security Council, ensured that the State is arguably the most peaceful State in the South-South, resulting in increased inflow of investment.
“We have deployed technology in checking insecurity, collaborating with community-based security networks, working in close partnership with federal security agencies and leveraging a Security Management Information System through which we track and respond swiftly to security incidents in the State. In the last few years, we have recorded lower levels of violent crimes. Our people are therefore happy and committed to sustaining peace to drive the economic progress made so far.
“It is against this backdrop that Edo people seek a peaceful election and seamless transition of government that would not disrupt the tranquillity and stability in the State.
“Unfortunately, what we can see in the build up to the September 21 election, is what looks like a deliberate plan by elements within the ranks of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to prevent a peaceful election and stoke chaos in Edo State.
“We have ensured civility, fair play, and equity in the electoral campaigns. Everyone has had free hand to campaign and canvass for votes from the electorate without let.
“Conversely, however, there have been persistent and continuous provocative actions sponsored by the opposition APC to stir crisis in Edo State in pursuit of their selfish ends.
“A case in point is the continuous harassment of chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Nigerian Police Force. Leaders of the PDP are being hounded and attacked with the ultimate goal of causing chaos and setting the stage to subvert the will of the people.”
