Edo 2024: PDP Declines Signing of Peace Accord, Accuses Police of Partiality
.…IGP panics, rushes to arraign detained PDP chieftains on trumped up charges in Abuja Magistrate Court
…Edo women organise massive protest in Benin against police bias, partiality
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, declined the signing of the Peace Accord for the September 21 gubernatorial elections in the State, accusing the Police who are the agency responsible for enforcing the accord of partiality.
The signing of the peace accord promoted by the National Peace Committee (NPC) chaired by former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, by political parties took place on Thursday, in Benin City, with the PDP boycotting the process over worries that it cannot sign an accord with an enforcement body that had demonstrated bias in favour of one of the parties in the election.
The PDP, through its State Chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, had insisted, among other conditions, that its members and chieftains who have been illegally arrested in gestapo style by the Police and whisked to secret holding centres in Abuja be immediately and unconditionally released or charged to a court of competent jurisdiction before it would consider the signing of the accord.
This is as the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun is said to have entered panic mode, rushing to arraign the detained members of the PDP on trumped-up charges at a Magistrate Court in Abuja, following the revelation of Governor Godwin Obaseki that the IGP is working hand in gloves with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also, thousands of Edo women on Thursday, converged on Benin City, to protest against police partiality in the run-up to the governorship election, demanding the release of their husbands, children, sons and fathers who were illegally arrested and detained by the Police in collusion with the APC.
Aziegbemi, in a statement on Thursday, said it would only be unfair, unconscionable and unreasonable to request a party that is currently under a vicious attack by the opposing Party, utilizing the illegal services of the police to step forward to sign a Peace Accord.
He further demanded an undertaking by the Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to operate a level playing field and not allow themselves to be used as a private army by one of the parties in the election
According to him, “The people of Edo State are well known to be peaceful and law-abiding, particularly in the conduct of elections and we are certain that Your Excellency, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, with the benefit of previous experience, will bear witness to this fact."
“In the course of preparations for this election however, strange and disturbing new elements have been introduced in particular by a Party that has apparently reached the conclusion that it cannot prevail in a free, fair and peaceful election."
“That Party and its senior officials have openly boasted about their intention to deploy ‘Federal Might’ to ensure victory despite the will or wishes of Edo people.”
“It must be noted that there was no evidence or record of any member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State or official of government as having participated in the unfortunate event of that said day."
“Despite this reality, however, the APC has since procured a Rogue Contingent of Policemen who have been given a lengthy list of PDP members and sympathizers and they have since in gestapo fashion embarked on surreptitious arrest of these members of the PDP, who were subsequently whisked to Abuja (or other unknown detention centres), without charge and without bringing them before any Court of Law as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
“The situation has subsequently degenerated into an all-out reign of terror where members of the APC are acting as pointers for effecting the illegal arrest and rendition of the said PDP members without charge."
He added, “This situation threatens to create unpalatable reactions as those who are being threatened may have no option but to resort to self-preservative moves creating the risk of violence, disorder and chaos when we have less than two weeks to a pivotal election.”
The Edo PDP chair also gave a breakdown of the list of PDP members who have currently been arrested without charge and remain in unlawful custody at undisclosed locations in Abuja and other places.
According to him, persons arrested or being harassed by the police include Lucky Aidenya, Festus Unuabor, Maxwell, Francis Inegbeneki, Dr. Kelly Inedegbor, SaugieEnabulele, Festus Ovienloba and Moha Haruna.
Others are Luke Einojie, Gabriel Omhenra, Emmanuel Oroto, Noel Mathews, Amos Tom Udehagene, OsiImojire, Kingsley Osehon, KehindeOlotu and many more.
He listed those in police custody for upwards of two weeks to include Noel Mathews, Amos Tom Udehagene, OsiImojire, Kingsley Osehon and Kehinde Olotu and many more
Those who have been declared wanted by the Police are: Dr. Kelly Inedegbor, Emmanuel Oroto, Moha Haruna, Luke Einojie, Festus Unuabor, Gabriel Omhenra and many more
“In the circumstances, it will be quite clear that nothing would be more unfair, unconscionable and in fact, unreasonable than to request a party that is currently under a vicious attack by the opposing Party, utilizing the illegal services of state security agents to step forward to sign a Peace Accord under these circumstances,” Aziegbemi added.
On the way forward, the Edo PDP chairman stated, “As things stand today, the Peoples Democratic Party and in fact, the people of Edo State, believe that certain minimum steps must be immediately taken to create an atmosphere of fairness and balance, and a level playing field as a non-negotiable requirement for the enthronement of peace and security in the run-up to the election:
“The immediate and unconditional release/production of all persons currently in unlawful custody or all these persons if alleged to have committed any crime should be immediately brought before a court of competent jurisdiction in compliance with all civilized constitutional processes."
“The immediate redeployment of the current Edo State Commissioner of Police and the current Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and their replacement with persons who can exhibit fairness and balance in the performance of their functions and who do not have any links to the contending parties or vested interests in the process."
“The immediate recall of any external Police Team/Squad from Abuja or any other location in Nigeria currently marauding in Edo State, illegally arresting perceived political opponents and creating undue tension in the State."
“An undertaking and commitment by the Nigeria Police and INEC to operate a level playing field without allowing themselves to become a private army at the behest of one of the contending parties.”
Aziegbemi added, “We wish to state that our party and our candidates have the utmost confidence in the goodwill and peace-loving nature of Edo people and we are willing to submit ourselves to their democratic choice under a free, fair and untainted process."
“At present, it is clear that the basis for peace and the conduct of a peaceful election are not in place. Accordingly, once the conditions presented above have been met, we will be ready to immediately make ourselves available to sign the Peace Accord.”
Meanwhile, the detained PDP members are said to be arraigned on trumped-up charges by the IGP in a distant Magistrate Court in the suburb of Abuja, far away from where the crimes were allegedly committed.
In the document, with charge No CR/DUI/714/24 and cited by our correspondent, the Inspector General of Police arraigned the detained PDP chieftains in connection with the Airport Road incident of Thursday, July 18, 2024, even though there is no evidence to show that they were at the scene of the said event.
Rather, there are video evidence and a newspaper publication of the incident which clearly identified the faces of the gun-wielding thugs and members of the APC who carried out the wanton destruction of property and breach of public peace on the said date.
The current Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Collins Aigbogun, who was recently arrested in his local council and whisked to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, after he had approached the Police to give evidence after he was attacked and shot at, is among those arraigned by the IGP on trumped up charges in connection to the Airport Road incident.
Others are Tom Uduaogighde Amos, Hon. Kingsley Osehon, Kehinde Olotu, Nuel Mathew, Joel Imojiere, Adeshino Aremo, Ikielea Jeo, Festus Ovienloba and Agogoh Daniel.
The PDP however describes the move by the IGP as a mere subterfuge, noting that it is all part of efforts to advance the devious plans by the APC who have repeatedly boasted of using ‘Federal Might’ to ensure victory against the will or wishes of Edo people, having realized that they don’t stand a chance of victory in a free, fair and credible election.
The Edo women, protesting in Benin matched in their numbers through major roads within the Benin metropolis, from King Square through Airport Road, among others, carrying placards with various inscriptions to register their displeasure over the partiality of the police leading to the politically motivated arrest and detention of their family members.
The protesters who were all dressed in black attire also made a stop at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City, which is the venue for the signing of the Peace Accord for the September 21 governorship election, demanding for a free, fair and credible election in the State.
Some of the women who spoke to our correspondents called President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rein in the Inspector General of Police to avoid a breakdown of law and order and avert the impending crisis in the State.
According to them, “Adams Oshiomole and the APC are causing problems in Edo State. They are afraid of free, fair and credible elections and want to embrace violence and intimidation to rig the election.’
They further charged the Police to immediately “release our husbands, fathers, brothers and son arrested to Abuja. They should stop causing tension in Edo State. We need a free, fair and credible election in Edo State. We want peace not violence in the election.”
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