The Edo State branch of the Peoples Democratic Party criticized the state police command on Sunday for allegedly harassing and unlawfully arresting its leaders in the lead-up to the September 21 governorship election.
The party urged the international community, Civil Society Organisations, and other relevant stakeholders to focus their attention on the election.
The party further accused the police of colluding with the All Progressives Congress to sideline its members.
During a press briefing on Sunday in Benin, the state capital, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, the Director General of the Asue Ighodalo/Osarodion Ogie Campaign Management Council, stated that the police had arrested Mr. Amos Tom and Kingsley Osahon, among others. He added that Odion Olaye, Chief Francis Inegbiniki, Chief Olukoga, Festus Osaigbovo, and Kelly Inedegbor had been marked for arrest through the use of a ‘fake’ court warrant.
His statement reads in part, “It has become imperative to highlight the disturbing pattern of harassment, unlawful arrest, and the kidnap of chieftains of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party across the three senatorial districts of the state by some policemen suspected to be from the Intelligence Response Team in Abuja who are believed to have been paid huge sums of money by the All Progressives Congress.”
He claimed that the police officers, reportedly under the command of a Chief Superintendent, have been exceeding their duties by carrying AK-47 rifles and other weapons while patrolling the state in Hummer buses and Hilux vans, using these tactics to intimidate and abduct party leaders.
He added, “These policemen have since the onset of their sinister operations arrested some of our party members, including Mr Amos Tom, and Kingsley Osahon, the Councillor representing Ward 10 in Esan North East Local Government Area, along with several others whose whereabouts are currently unknown.”
The Director of Publicity for the APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, stated that PDP members are not being harassed.
Omo-Ojo, in a statement on Sunday, said, “The Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State has become a huge embarrassment to itself with its unrelenting media attack on the Nigerian Police, and other security agencies in the country.
“PDP has abandoned campaigns to concentrate on mischievous propaganda to cover up their failure to articulate campaign strategy which has become obvious with their dwindling members.
“Nigerians will recall that the All Progressives Congress in Edo State has been under intense violent attacks from the state-sponsored Edo State Security Network, ESSN and Public Work Volunteers PUWOV.
“It was these groups that planned and murdered the security aide to Senator Monday Okpebholo in cold blood at the Benin City Airport exit gate.
“Earlier, the Deputy Director General of Asue Ighodalo Campaign Organisation had openly charged some PDP agents to attack members of the opposition in a viral video. The said Martins is now standing criminal trial for his pro-violent conduct.
“We call on the leadership of the PDP to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies in the investigation of the various crimes that have been committed by its members.
“Governor Obaseki should summarily disband the Edo State Security Network as a sign of his party’s readiness for a peaceful election,” he added.
A senior officer from the Edo State Police Command advised that any inquiries regarding the issue should be directed to the force headquarters in Abuja.
