Concerns have been raised about the ongoing arrests of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members by the Police, just two days before the governorship election in Edo State.
On Thursday, the Edo Collectives, a socio-political group, made a statement that raised concerns about the arrest of some PDP members.
According to the statement signed by Ese Ipboba, Edo Collectives spokesperson, the PDP leaders detained were Chief Ehikioha Clifford, Friday Adams, and Obehi Stanley.
In recent reports, they were taken into custody by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on Thursday.
According to the group, the motive for the arrests was not revealed, and there have been reports that women leaders in Etsako who support the PDP are being threatened with abduction.
“Despite the assurance that there will be no arrest of politicians on or before the election on Saturday, another set of PDP members have been arrested.
“It will be recalled that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has been accused of using federal might to harass and intimidate the opposition in the state.
“The position of PDP not to sign the peace accord is being manifested by the unnecessary and unwarranted indiscriminate arrest of its chieftains,” the statement said.
The group appealed to the IGP “to halt the provoking arrests a few hours before the election”.
Earlier, Tony Aziegbemi, the state chairman PDP complained that all hell had been let loose since after the primaries of the different parties. He also mentioned; “ The Nigerian Police Force has been so bias under the present IGP”.
The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, in a statement on Tuesday, said the arrest in his opinion was the handiwork of the All Progressives Congress Allegedly.
Recall that the IGP had earlier stated that part of the arrest was as a result of a connection leading to the killing of a police man at the airport.
Now reporting is that the Police have been accused by the Edo State government of detaining members of the party in Abuja after they were arrested.
The commissioner for communication and orientation, Chris Nehikhare, reported that the PDP members who were detained include a local government chairman and operatives of the Edo State Security Network.
The PDP declined to sign the Peace Accord due to the development.
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