The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki noted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may opt out of the peace accord, as police responsible for enforcing the accord, are attracted to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP. The governor made this statement when he received the Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), General Abdulsalam Abubakar, who was on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City, Edo State, ahead of the signing of the Peace Accord on September 12, 2024.
Obaseki, in a statement he personally signed on September 10, noted that since the commencement of the electioneering process in the state, the actions of the police have demonstrated bias.
The outgoing governor expressed concern that the police, under the influence of the APC, have arrested not less than 10 PDP chieftains perceived as strong political opposition, including the serving Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Collins Aigbogun, who was arrested and taken to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The governor also noted that the PDP chairman had written two petitions to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over the harassment of party leaders, which have not been addressed.
Obaseki questioned how one could enter a peace accord with an umpire who, from the onset, has shown bias in favor of one of the parties in the election.
The governor also demanded the immediate unconditional release of the PDP chieftains who were arrested in a Gestapo-style by the police and taken to secret holding centers. He noted that if these PDP leaders were legally arrested, they should be charged in courts in Benin City to answer for any infractions they are alleged to have committed.
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of the PDP, Anthony Aziegbemi, raised concerns over the deployment of associates of former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state and as the Edo Commissioner of Police in the lead-up to the September 21 governorship election.
