Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the traditional Peace Accord ahead of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.
Obaseki said the PDP may not participate in the signing of the Peace Accord slated for Thursday, September 12, over an allegation that the Nigeria Police Force, responsible for enforcing the accord, is acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor said this during a meeting with the chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, at the Government House in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Wednesday, September 11
He alleged that the police, under the alleged manipulation of APC, had arrested 10 PDP chieftains ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
Obaseki said those arrested included the Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Collins Aigbogun.
The governor said Aigbogun was whisked to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, after his arrest.
Obaseki stated that upon learning of the council chairman’s arrest, he reached out to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and asked that due process be followed and that the matter be handled within the state’s jurisdiction.
Obaseki said the directive was flouted, directly undermining his authority as Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the state.
He added that the PDP chairman had also written two petitions to the IGP over the harassment of the party leaders, which had not been attended to.
Governor Obaseki, who demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chieftains, said: “You (Abubakar) are very conversant with the politics of Edo State. You were here in 2020 and we had a very heated election. You know this is an off-cycle election and there is a lot of attention.
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“Unlike 2020, I am very worried with the developments in the state today. The party met yesterday and we might not likely sign this agreement.
“This is the first time we are witnessing that the person who is supposed to keep and enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.
“The opposition party in the state, the APC, has always argued that they may not be as popular and didn’t win in the last election but promised to use federal might to determine the outcome of the election.
“We thought it’s just rhetoric, but in the last four weeks, we’ve had a situation where from the office of the IGP, armed gang policemen have come into Edo State to invade, arrest and take away PDP members.
“As we speak, there are 10 PDP members arrested and detained in Abuja without trial. Two days ago, they came to pick up a local government chairman.”
Speaking on Aigbogun’s arrest, Obaseki said: “The chairman was going back home and was attacked and shot at. We reported and the police asked him to come and give evidence. He came and was arrested. As I speak, he is in Abuja.
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“Even if an offence has been committed in Edo State, why will you not charge the offenders and try them here in the state? Why take them to Abuja? Are the offences of high treason? Why not charge them to court?
“The IGP’s office came in, issued a warrant to arrest 60 PDP supporters, driving all our leaders into hiding. My role as Chief Security Officer of the state is being made nonsense of by the IGP.”
The governor added: “I heard somebody was arrested and I called the commissioner to inform him. He said he will come back to me only to hear that he moved the person to Abuja. Tell me, sir, how can we sign a peace accord in this situation?
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“Clearly, what they are saying is that it’s going to be a violent election and that they are going to use the forces of coercion and intimidation to win elections in Edo, whether we like it or not. That is the message.
“Now that the IGP is in town, we say until everybody arrested is brought back to Edo, and to be tried here in Edo for whatever offences they have committed, we have no confidence that the police will protect us in Edo State during the governorship election.”
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