Again, PDP, APC trade words over alleged harassment,

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

The Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, yesterday, accused the police of harassment, unlawful arrest and kidnap of chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the three senatorial districts of Edo State in order to weaken the party ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Benin City, Director General of the Campaign Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, alleged that the policemen suspected to be from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja are believed to have been paid huge sums of money by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“These police officers allegedly led by CSP Ibrahim Angbasa have been operating outside the scope of their job, carrying AK-47 rifles and other weapons and moving around the state in Hummer buses and Hilux vans, to harass and abduct our party chieftains across the state.”

“These policemen are said to be deployed by DC Sanusi Muhammad of the IRT, Force Headquarters, in Abuja.

“Another police officer from Uromi, Edo Central, popularly called ‘Citadel’ is also said to be in active connivance with these unauthorised police officers to carry out this dastardly acts in the state.

“These policemen have since the outset 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.

“We are also aware that they have compiled a list of prominent PDP chieftains from across the three senatorial districts, and even procured fake court warrants of arrest with names of the PDP members, whom they plan to abduct to weaken the party ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for September 21, 2024.”

He lamented that while the PDP was actively campaigning, articulating their programmes and initiatives for the people of Edo State, the APC was attempting to weaponise the police against the people because they know they have a defective and unmarketable candidate and cannot win under any circumstance in a free, fair and credible election. He alleged that the APC’s only strategy was to use what they termed, ‘federal might,’ to harass and intimidate the opposition parties into submission in their quest to secure electoral victory through subterfuge.

“The police officers, who are being compromised to do the wishes of the APC must remember that they are funded by the taxpayers’ money and must not allow themselves to be used by the APC against the people, in pursuit of their selfish political gains. The police are for all Nigerians and not for some powerful members of the ruling party at the federal government level.

“It is pertinent to note that the days in which political parties win elections by wanton intimidation are far gone and Edo people are going to stand firm in resistance to any form of harassment and intimidation by any group or persons, no matter how highly placed.

“We also want to categorically state that the Nigeria Police Force is not on the ballot for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, as it now appears to us that we are now contesting against the APC/the Nigeria Police. It is, therefore, important that they, in the interest of peace and security in the state and country, read the mood of the nation and conduct themselves professionally as we approach the elections, and ensure that they maintain law and order which is their constitutional responsibility.

“We believe that this devious resort to harassment and intimidation is a recipe for anarchy and we are, therefore, calling on the Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone 5, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and other security agencies to step in and stop these harassments and intimidation by these suspected band of the APC police operatives believed to be on illegal duty, to prevent a descent to anarchy in the state,” Iduoriyekemwen warned.

He said the PDP as a responsible party and the Campaign Organisation, shall continue to abide by the rules of engagement as spelt out in the constitution and the Electoral Act, and will continue to market their candidates to the Edo people, as well as resist every form of harassment and intimidation by any institution or agency of government, but called on the civil society organisations (CSOs), other stakeholders and the international community to turn their attention to Edo State and take note of the disturbing pattern of harassment and intimidation by the police as allegedly sponsored by the APC in the build-up to the Edo State Governorship election slated for September 21 to avoid undermining the wishes of Edo people at the polls.

But, reacting to the PDP’s allegation, the APC said the Edo PDP has become a huge embarrassment to itself with its unrelenting media attack on the Nigerian police, and other security agencies in the country.

The Director of Publicity, Edo APC Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, in a statement, said: “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 APC 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 Inspector Akor Onuh, the security aide to Senator Monday Okpebholo, in cold blood at the Benin City Airport exit gate.

“Only recently, a chieftain of the PDP, Prince Emmanuel Odigie, was seen on Arise Television calling on the Nigerian Army to sack the democratically elected Federal Government of Nigeria.

The same Prince Odigie told Nigerians that he was present at a meeting, where members of the presidency, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, claimed to have perfected plans with some notable APC leaders in Edo State to rig the forthcoming September 21 Governorship Election in Edo State, while President Tinubu would be on a disguised trip out of the country.

“These are obvious infractions of the law that need thorough investigation.

“Earlier, the Deputy Director General of Asue Ighodalo Campaign Organisation, Rev Olu Martins, had openly charged some PDP agents to attack members of the opposition in a viral video. Martins is now standing criminal trial for his pro-violent conduct.

“Sadly, Governor Godwin Obaseki escalated the violence in the state with his threat that Nigeria would burn if the police arrest those that murdered Inspector Akor.

“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,” the statement said.