The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has accused the state police command of operating as an arm of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the September 21 governorship election approaches.
At a press conference in Benin on Sunday, Tony Aziegbemi, the state PDP chairman, expressed concern that the police’s actions could undermine the fairness of the upcoming election. He alleged that the police have shown partiality towards the opposition party.
“This is to express our concern over the police disposition to a level playing field for parties ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state,” Aziegbemi said. “The party has witnessed instances in which the police acted in manners that suggest that they are a wing of the All Progressives Congress.”
Aziegbemi highlighted that the police’s actions and inactions at both the state and national levels seemed to favor petitions raised by the APC.
“The operatives’ actions and inactions at the state and national level in the wake of developments appeared to be that they are disposed only of petitions raised by the APC,” he added.
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He also noted recent incidents that support his claim, including the arrest of Rev. Olu Martins, Deputy Director of Media for the PDP Election Campaign Council. Martins was detained following a petition, later arraigned in court, and granted bail.
Aziegbemi compared this to the lack of action on a petition he submitted concerning threats made by the APC’s state chairman against Governor Godwin Obaseki.
“A video evidence of this threat and an accompanying petition was submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Edo State. Surprisingly, no action has been taken on the matter since the petition was submitted, unlike the swift manner in which the Police responded to the petition against Martins,” he said.
The PDP chairman also alleged that the police have deployed a tactical team to monitor and intimidate at least 22 PDP members and leaders.
In response, Edo State Commissioner of Police Funsho Adegboye stated that the cases have been transferred to Abuja. “Whatever observations or comments anybody has should be directed to Abuja,” he said.
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