The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it describes as a disturbing pattern of harassment, unlawful arrests, and abductions of its leaders across the state’s three senatorial districts.
In a statement by Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, the Director General, Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, the party revealed that these actions are being carried out by police officers, suspected to be from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja, who are believed to have been heavily bribed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the PDP, these officers, reportedly led by CSP Ibrahim Angbasa and acting on the orders of DC Sanusi Muhammad from the IRT at Force Headquarters, have been overstepping their legal bounds. The officers are said to be armed with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, and have been using Hummer buses and Hilux vans to intimidate and abduct PDP chieftains throughout the state. The party further reports that another officer, DC Patrick Ejedawe, also known as “Citadel” and hailing from Uromi in Edo Central, has been colluding with these unauthorized police officers to carry out these actions.
The PDP noted that since the beginning of these operations, several party members, including Mr. Amos Tom and Hon. Kingsley Osahon, the Councillor for Ward 10 in Esan North East Local Government Area, have been arrested, with their current whereabouts unknown. The party also warns that a list of prominent PDP figures from the three senatorial districts has been compiled, and fake arrest warrants have been issued in their names. The intention, according to the PDP, is to abduct these individuals to weaken the party’s position ahead of the gubernatorial election scheduled for September 21, 2024. The party named Chief Odion Olaye, Chief Francis Inegbiniki, Chief B. Olukoga, Mr. Festus Osaigbovo, and Dr. Kelly Inedegbor, Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area, among those believed to be targeted.
The PDP laments that while the party is focused on actively campaigning and engaging with voters across the state, the APC is resorting to using the police as a tool of intimidation due to their inability to compete in a free and fair election. The PDP accuses the APC of attempting to manipulate the police to secure an undeserved electoral victory.
The party calls on the police, who are funded by taxpayers, to remember their duty to serve all Nigerians, not just the interests of a few powerful APC members. The PDP also highlighted an incident where former Deputy Governor Hon. Philip Shuaibu allegedly issued threats against the PDP during a rally in one of the senatorial districts. The PDP asserts that this is further evidence that the APC is orchestrating violence and intimidation to disrupt the election process, with plans allegedly coordinated from Abuja.
The PDP stresses that the days of winning elections through intimidation are over and vows that the people of Edo State will resist any attempts to undermine their rights. The party also reminds the Nigeria Police Force that it is not a contestant in the September 21 gubernatorial election and urges the force to conduct itself professionally.
Finally, the PDP appeals to the Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone 5, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and other security agencies to intervene and halt the alleged harassment and intimidation. The party also calls on civil society organizations, stakeholders, and the international community to monitor the situation in Edo State closely to ensure that the police do not compromise the electoral process. The PDP remains committed to a peaceful campaign and assures that the people of Edo State will decisively support the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, in the upcoming election, despite any intimidation tactics.