Less than two hours before the signing of the Peace Accord between contending political parties prior to the September 21 governorship election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that it was not interested in signing the peace accord.
This position comes barely 12 hours after Governor Godwin Obaseki while receiving the Chairman of the Presidential Peace Committee, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar said his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the peace accord because the party has lost faith in the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat, Chairman of the APC in Edo State, Emperor Jarret Tenebe said the reasons for their refusal to sign the accord among others was that for over two months after a police inspector Onuh Akor who was the orderly to the candidate of the party, Sen Monday Okpebholo was shot and killed along Airport Road, there has been no arrest and prosecution, despite claims by the former Commissioner of Police, Funsho who “told Nigerians that the command had the names of those who murdered Inspector Onuh Akor at the Benin airport.”
According to him, Governor Godwin Obaseki is allegedly keeping them in the government house instead of having them arrested.
Tenebe said, “This failure of the police has emboldened the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Peoples Democratic Party to attack members of our political party at rally grounds and in their private business premises ceaselessly.”
He asserted that the governor’s statements were inflammatory and undermined his title as the Chief Security Officer of the State.
In various communities, including Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, and Esan West local government area, he documented the various attacks that the APC campaign team has been subjected to, while also mobilizing supporters for the election.
“In the wake of this very worrisome and dangerous trend, Governor Obaseki kept mute and refused to condemn the attacks as the Chief Security Officer of the state. Instead, one Odion Olaye, the Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress in Edo State, while in the company of Obaseki, openly threatened the country that, “Nigeria will burn if INEC fails to declare the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election.”
He referred to several PDP chieftains who he claimed have publicly boasted about their willingness to do anything and get away with it. He also alleged that the party’s petition to the police regarding these incidents with the names of the suspects has not been dealt with.
He said “The summary of these episodes is the unwillingness of Obaseki to embrace peace and the refusal of the security agencies to guarantee a peaceful environment for the conduct of September 21st, 2024 scheduled election.”
As part of its demand to sign the peace accord, Tenebe said the police should take steps to declare those accused of the killing of the police allegedly hiding in Government House, wanted.
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