Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Nigeria Police to immediately release leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that have been arrested or charge them to court.
Atiku stated this on Thursday referencing the statement issued on Wednesday night by Edo State government over the role of the police in the governorship campaign ahead of the election in the state.
The statement which was signed on Wednesday by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, said that “in the last few years, we have worked tirelessly to provide stability and engender reforms to spur economic development in Edo State. We have improved the security situation in the State and have, through coordinated efforts by the Edo State Security Council, ensured that the State is arguably the most peaceful State in the South-South, resulting in increased inflow of investment.
“We have deployed technology in checking insecurity, collaborating with community-based security networks, working in close partnership with federal security agencies and leveraging a Security Management Information System through which we track and respond swiftly to security incidents in the State. In the last few years, we have recorded lower levels of violent crimes. Our people are therefore happy and committed to sustaining peace to drive the economic progress made so far.
“It is against this backdrop that Edo people seek a peaceful election and seamless transition of government that would not disrupt the tranquillity and stability in the State.”
Obaseki said unfortunately, “what we can see in the build up to the September 21 election, is what looks like a deliberate plan by elements within the ranks of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to prevent a peaceful election and stoke chaos in Edo State.
“We have ensured civility, fair play and equity in the electoral campaigns. Everyone has had freehand to campaign and canvass for votes from the electorate without let.
“Conversely, however, there have been persistent and continuous provocative actions sponsored by the opposition APC to stir crisis in Edo State in pursuit of their selfish ends.
“A case in point is the continuous harassment of chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Nigerian Police Force. Leaders of the PDP are being hounded and attacked with the ultimate goal of causing chaos and setting the stage to subvert the will of the people.
“First, there was a violent disturbance on Airport Road, Benin City, on July 18, 2024, which was orchestrated and executed by thugs sponsored by the APC. As at today, the Police under the control of the APC has refused to effect the arrest of gun-wielding members of the party captured on camera, orchestrating the crisis. Instead, they have descended on members and leaders of the PDP, who were not even present at the scene of the disturbance.”
He lamented that “in the last few weeks, the Police under the manipulation of the APC, has arrested not less than 10 PDP chieftains who they perceive would be strong political opposition to them in the coming election.
This came to a head with the arrest and whisking to the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), Abuja, of the serving Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Collins Aigbogun.
“On learning of his arrest, I reached out to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, asking that due process be followed and that the matter be handled within the State’s jurisdiction. This directive was flouted, directly undermining my authority as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the State.
“We also have it on good authority that a rogue police team has been provided with a longlist of PDP chieftains to be arrested and detained until after the election.
“All petitions and appeals to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have not dissuaded men of the Police from going about with the mandate of intimidating members of the PDP and launching sting operations to capture, kidnap and lock up PDP chieftains across the State,” Obaseki said.
He emphasised that “it is now clear to us that the APC and its agents are not interested in a peaceful and credible election in Edo State. The conduct and the collusion with federal government institutions to undermine the electoral process spells a clear danger that must be averted.
“We are therefore using this opportunity to stress that this posture and stance is a recipe for disaster and crisis and would invariably lead to chaos in the State if not checked.
“To be sure, Edo people are going to stand firmly and defend their State against all forms of manipulative and imperialistic tendencies from APC leaders in Abuja or elsewhere. Edo people are known to stand boldly for forthrightness, justice and equity, and will kick against all forms of intimidation and subterfuge.”
Obaseki demanded the “immediate unconditional release of the PDP chieftains who were arrested in gestapo style by the Police and whisked to secret holding centres.
“If these PDP leaders were legally arrested, we demand that they should be charged to courts in Benin City to answer for whatever infractions they are alleged to have committed and not to be subjected to perpetual incarceration, as now obtains.
“I want to implore the Presidency to call the Police and leaders of the APC to order over the manner in which they have been conducting themselves in the lead up to the election.
“We also call on the international community, including the American Embassy, the British High Commission, the European Union and other embassies and international development organisations present in Nigeria to take note of the warning signs coming from Edo State and identify the people to be held accountable for the mayhem that is being orchestrated by actors within the APC to undermine the will of Edo people and thwart their right to freely exercise their franchise in the coming election.
“This potential crisis has unravelled early enough for everyone to take action. We call on all stakeholders to intervene promptly to prevent the State from teetering on the precipice of chaos by ensuring a free, fair and credible election in Edo State,” Obaseki had said.
As a result, the PDP shunned the peace accord chaired by the former Military Head of State, Rtd General Abdulsalami Abubakar on Thursday and refused to sign the accord.in Benin, the state capital.
Atiku stated that the time has come for “our security agencies to be called to account.”
He said it is a “grievous affront to the ideals of peace and harmony when, on the cusp of an off-season election, these agencies arbitrarily detain local leaders of the PDP, thus robbing the opposition of the essential tools that would allow it to remain a competitive force.
“It is incumbent upon the Inspector General of Police and other esteemed heads of security to immediately release all detained members of the PDP or, should there be substantial grounds, to duly present them before the courts.”
He added that the very essence of tranquillity is imperilled when the state’s federal assets are wielded to harass and intimidate political adversaries.