Edo State Governor and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Godwin Obaseki, has suggested that the PDP might not sign the Peace Accord today, claiming that the Police are acting in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obaseki made this statement while receiving the chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City, ahead of the signing of the Peace Accord on September 12, 2024.
In a statement dated September 10, Governor Obaseki noted that the Police have shown a biased stance since the beginning of the electioneering process. He expressed concern to Abubakar that the Police, allegedly under the influence of the APC, had arrested at least 10 PDP leaders, including Hon. Collins Aigbogun, the serving chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, who was taken to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
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Obaseki explained that upon learning of Aigbogun’s arrest, he requested the Edo State Commissioner of Police to ensure that due process was followed and that the matter remained within the state’s jurisdiction—a directive that was ignored, undermining his authority as the state’s Chief Security Officer (CSO).
He also mentioned that the PDP chairman had submitted two petitions to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) regarding the harassment of party leaders, which had not been addressed. Obaseki questioned how a peace accord could be established with an umpire who has shown partiality from the outset.
The governor demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP leaders who were arrested in a “Gestapo-style” manner by the Police and held in secret locations. He emphasized that if the arrests were legal, the individuals should be charged in Benin City courts to answer for any alleged infractions.
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According to him, “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.
“Unlike 2020, I am very worried with 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.
“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.”
He added: “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 offense has been committed in Edo State, why will you not charge the offenses and try them here in the State. Why take them to Abuja, are the offenses 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.”
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