The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has cried out that there are plans to arrest many of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in the state.
Governor Obaseki claimed the plan was to give the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo victory in the coming governorship election.
In a statement on his X handle, Tuesday night, Obaseki alleged that the police connived with the APC to illegally arrest and detain PDP party members, aimed at stirring up crisis in the state.
“It is unbecoming of officers of the Nigeria Police Force to connive with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to illegally arrest and detain members of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and to stir up crisis in Edo State in the lead-up to the guber poll.
“I have it on good authority that the plan is to arrest as many PDP stalwarts as possible. This is a very dangerous trend and poses a real threat to our democracy.
“A situation where the sitting local government chairman of Esan West is arrested and whisked away to Abuja, undermining my authority as the Chief Security Officer of the State is totally unacceptable,” Obaseki stated.
He added that he would make his positions known to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who is expected in the state today (Wednesday).
“I strongly appeal to the supporters of the PDP to remain calm and peaceful. The Inspector General of Police is expected in the state tomorrow, and I will make my feelings known to him. It is in no one’s interest, especially the Police, to undermine our democracy,” Obaseki added.