Edo PDP, APC trade words over members’ harassment
Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Sunday, berated the state police command for alleged harassment and unlawful arrest of its chieftains ahead of the September 21 governorship poll in the state.
The party called on the international community, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders to turn their attention to the election.
The party also accused the police of conniving with the All Progressives Congress to keep its members out of circulation.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday in Benin, the state capital, the Director General of the Asue Ighodalo/ Osarodion Ogie Campaign Management Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, said the police had arrested Mr Amos Tom, and Kingsley Osahon, among others, while Odion Olaye, Chief Francis Inegbiniki, Chief Olukoga, Festus Osaigbovo, Kelly Inedegbor, have been pencilled down for arrest, having procured a ‘fake’ court warrant of arrest.
His statement reads in part, “It has become imperative to highlight the disturbing pattern of harassment, unlawful arrest, and the kidnap of chieftains of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party across the three senatorial districts of the state by some policemen suspected to be from the Intelligence Response Team in Abuja who are believed to have been paid huge sums of money by the All Progressives Congress.”
He said the police officers, allegedly led by a Chief Superintendent, have been operating outside the scope of their job, wielding AK-47 rifles and other weapons and moving around the state in Hummer buses and Hilux vans, to harass and abduct party chieftains.
He added, “These policemen have since the onset 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.”
However, the Director of Publicity, the APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, said no one is harassing PDP members.
Omo-Ojo, in a statement on Sunday, said, “The Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State has become a huge embarrassment to itself with its unrelenting media attack on the Nigerian Police, and other security agencies in the country.
“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 All Progressives Congress 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 the security aide to Senator Monday Okpebholo in cold blood at the Benin City Airport exit gate.
“Earlier, the Deputy Director General of Asue Ighodalo Campaign Organisation had openly charged some PDP agents to attack members of the opposition in a viral video. The said Martins is now standing criminal trial for his pro-violent conduct.
“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,” he added.
However, a top police officer of the Edo State Police Command said enquiries on the matter should be directed to the force headquarters in Abuja.
