Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has expressed deep concerns about the security situation in the state ahead of the upcoming election., noting that “we have no confidence that the police will protect us in this election.”
In a conversation with former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Obaseki criticised the police and other security agencies, accusing them of actions intended to disrupt the electoral process.
He recalled incidents where armed men, reportedly from the Inspector General’s office, invaded the state, arresting and detaining PDP members without trial.
The governor detailed a recent incident where a local government chairman was attacked and arrested by police while attempting to report the attack.
He said, “You were here in 2020, and just like you rightly said, this is an off-cycle election – there’s a lot of attention. Unlike 2020, I am very worried because from the development – and where we are today – to sign the security pact. But the person who is supposed to enforce peace is now an active participant in creating a disruptive process.
“We had situations where, from the IG’s, armed men just came into Edo state to invade, arrest, and take away PDP members. As we speak, there is about 10 in detention in Abuja without trial.
“Two days ago, they came to pick up a local government chairman. He was on his way home, attacked, and shot at. He reported that the police asked him to come give evidence but was arrested. As I speak, he is in Abuja.
“Even if offences were committed in Edo State, why would you not try them here? Why take them to Abuja? Are they offences of high treason? And why not even charge them to court in Abuja?”
Obaseki accused the police of undermining his authority as the Chief Security Officer of the state.
He recounted an instance where he requested the Edo State Commissioner of Police’s intervention in an arrest case, only to have the suspect transferred to Abuja the following morning.
“The police came in and obtained a warrant to arrest 60 PDP supporters. All these to drive all our leaders into hiding. So, for me, my role as the Chief Security Officer is being made nonsense of by the IG.
“I called the commissioner and let him look into it. He said he would get back to me. The next day, he moved him to Abuja before 4am. So, how can we sign a peace accord?
“Clearly, what we are seeing is that they want to have a violent election. They would use the forces of coercion and intimidation to win the election by hook and crook whether we like it or not. That’s the message.
“It’s why we say that everybody arrested is released or brought back to Edo to try them for whatever offence they have committed until we can do anything. We have no confidence that the police will protect us in this election.”
