Toba Owojaiye reporting
Benin City, Edo State
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm over what it describes as a brutal attack on democracy by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.
In a press statement issued by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee in Edo, and made available to Truth Live News and other reputable media houses, the party detailed a violent takeover of its secretariat on Airport Road, Benin City, on January 16, 2025.
According to Aziegbemi, the attack, which occurred around 1:31 p.m., involved APC thugs allegedly led by Jarret Tenebe, backed by police officers reportedly from the Edo State Government House. The assault lasted over an hour, leaving the secretariat vandalized and several materials destroyed.
“The secretariat was vandalized, and there was wreckage and destruction everywhere. Banners and other materials were taken off and destroyed,” Aziegbemi stated, adding that his life was endangered during the incident. He accused Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, of personally assaulting him and forcibly removing him from his office.
Describing the incident as the “worst attack on democracy” since Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999, Aziegbemi likened the APC-led government in Edo, under Governor Okpebholo, to a reign of terror. He alleged a pattern of violence and intimidation targeting opposition leaders, elected council officials, and market traders across the state.
“It is the same devious tactics deployed to sack and intimidate duly elected council chairmen and vice chairmen out of office, using horse whips and other dangerous weapons,” Aziegbemi alleged, calling the current situation in the state a threat to democracy.
Aziegbemi appealed to the Federal Government, international agencies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to intervene. He accused Governor Okpebholo of overseeing “executive rascality, illegality, and brigandage” since assuming office on November 12, 2024, warning that the state is on the verge of anarchy.
“The wind currently blowing in Edo State is an ill wind that will blow no one any good,” he cautioned.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC in Edo State has not issued a response to the allegations. Efforts to reach the state government for comment were unsuccessful.
This latest development adds to the growing concerns over the state of democracy in Edo. Critics argue that if these allegations are left unchecked, the political tension could escalate into widespread unrest, further undermining democratic governance in the state.
Observers are closely monitoring the situation, as stakeholders nationwide call for swift and decisive action to restore order and ensure accountability.