Ahead of the September 21st governorship election in Edo State, Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the Peace Accord, an official agreement among political parties to be of good conduct before, during and after election, presented by the National Peace Committee (NPC), led by former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The governor who stated this when he received Abubakar who is the Chairman of the NPC in Benin City, alleged arbitrary arrests and intimidation of PDP members by the police in connivance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to win the state at all cost.
Obaseki lamented that the police which is supposed to be responsible for enforcing the accord, has, however shown by their actions that they are acting in the interest of the APC by waging war against the PDP.
Obaseki said he had no confidence in the police as they were playing out a script by the APC by arresting PDP chieftains who they perceived would be strong political opposition to them in the coming election.
He added that some PDP chieftains, including the Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Collins Aigbogun, we’re arrested and taken to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“You 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,” the governor said.
“Unlike 2020, I am very worried about 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.
“How do one enters a peace accord with an umpire who, from the onset has shown bias in favour of one of the parties in the election.
“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 however 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 a trial. Two days ago, they came to pick up a local government chairman.
“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.
“Even if an offence has been committed in Edo State, why will you not charge the offences 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 the Chief Security Officer of the State is being made nonsense of by the IGP.
“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? 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 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,” Obaseki stated.
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