Ahead of the Edo state gubernatorial election slated for next Saturday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Thursday cried out over continued harassment, torture and detention of its members and supporters in the state.
Consequently, the party has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to immediately redeploy the Edo state Commissioner of Police CP Nemo Edwin-Iwo so as to guarantee confidence, peace and security during the election.
Similarly, they also called for the release of all members of the PDP being detained by the Police.
Acting national chairman of the party, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, stated this at a press conference held in Abuja.
Damagum, who decried the activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigerian Police, cautioned on a repeat of the Adamawa state scenario.
He said:”The IGP should desist from interfering in the activities of Edo State Security Corps, a body lawfully established under the law.
“The PDP demands that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu immediately redeploys the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr. Anugbum Onuoha from the state especially now that people are already agitated against this obnoxious appointment.
“This is not only to guarantee a credible governorship election in Edo State but also to avert the ugly scenario witnessed in the 2023 Adamawa State Governorship election where a biased Resident Electoral Commissioner and other INEC officials nearly lost their lives in the hands of agitated electorate.
“In the election, they have resorted to violence, manipulations and using some rogue police operatives to harass, arrest, torture and detain innocent citizens of Edo State, particularly members and supporters of the PDP.”
Similarly, the party in the state has demanded the removal of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, over alleged links with the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyelsom Wike.
The party said the ties between the duo are too close to ignore, adding that the party believed that the REC would not be fair, just and equitable in the conduct of the September 21, governorship election in the State.
Chairman of the PDP in the state, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi who disclosed this in a letter to the INEC chairman on Thursday said: “not only do they share familiar ties, but are also close associates.
According to him, “to be clear, the said Edo REC is a cousin to Wike
The REC also served as a former Commissioner and Special Adviser to Wike during his tenure as Rivers Governor.
Meanwhile, 17 political parties in Edo state with the exception of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday committed themselves to abide by the principles of peace accord as they go to the polls on Saturday to elect the next governor of the state.
Although the PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo and his party chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, were present at the Victor Uwaifor Creative Hub venue of the event, both expressed reservations about the exercise.
Aziegbemi who spoke to journalists at the venue queried the usefulness of the peace accord signing, noting that “10 PDP members have been arrested in gestapo style by the police and detained in Abuja without trial.”
He added: “we are more than ready for this election… But the police IG is the most biased in the annals of this country.
“We will not allow a biased IGP who is not from Edo state to determine the outcome of this election. We demand the immediate recall of any external policemen currently marauding the state.”
In his welcome remarks, Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) called on political parties and their candidates to “use the accord as golden opportunity to set a positive example for other states and nations by demonstrating that they could disagree on policies and priorities but remain united in the love for the country and respect for the democratic process”.
Abubakar appealed to the candidates, parties and their supporters to remember that peace is the foundation upon which progress and development is built and established.