The Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party has raised an alarm over alleged harassment, unlawful arrest, and abduction of its chieftains by the Nigerian Police.
The Director General of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, made the allegations at a press conference in Benin, stating that the policemen involved were deployed by DC Sanusi Muhammad of the IRT, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Iduoriyekemwen claimed that the policemen, led by CSP Ibrahim Angbasa, have been operating outside their scope, carrying dangerous weapons and harassing PDP chieftains across the state. He also alleged that DC Patrick Ejedawe was involved in the sinister operations, according to Independent.
The PDP campaign director general listed several party members who have been arrested or abducted, including Mr. Amos Tom and Hon. Kingsley Osahon. He also claimed that a list of prominent PDP chieftains has been compiled for abduction to weaken the party ahead of the September 21 gubernatorial election.
Iduoriyekemwen accused the APC of attempting to weaponize the police against opposition parties, stating that the PDP will continue to abide by the rules of engagement and resist harassment and intimidation.
He called on the Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone 5, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and other security agencies to step in and stop the harassments, as well as on civil society organizations and the international community to monitor activities leading up to the elections.
“These Policemen involved in this harassment are suspected to be from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja who are believed to have been paid huge sums of money by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“They are allegedly led by one CSP Ibrahim Angbasa, who have been operating outside the scope of their job, carrying AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons and moving around the State in Hummer buses and Hilux vans, to harass and abduct our party chieftains across the State.
“Another police officer, DC Patrick Ejedawe, from Uromi, Edo Central, popularly called “Citadel”, is also said to be in active connivance with these unauthorized police officers to carry out this dastardly acts in the State.
“These policemen have since the onset of their sinister operations arrested some of our party members, including Mr Amos Tom , and Hon. Kingsley Osahon, the Councillor representing Ward 10 in Esan North East Local Government Area, along with several others whose whereabout are currently unknown.
“We are also aware that they have compiled a list of prominent PDP chieftains from across the State’s three senatorial districts, and even procured fake court warrants of arrest with names of PDP members, whom they plan to abduct to weaken the PDP ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for September 21, 2024.
“Among the names believed to be on this list include, Chief Odion Olaye, Chief Francis Inegbiniki, Chief B. Olukoga, Mr Festus Osaigbovo,Dr. Kelly Inedegbor, Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area, among others whose identities have yet to be confirmed”, Iduoriyekemwen said.
“Their only strategy is to use what they term federal might to harass and intimidate opposition parties into submission in their quest to secure electoral victory through subterfuge.
“The Police officers, who are being compromised to do the wishes of the APC, must remember that they are funded by tax payer’s money and must not allow themselves to be used by the APC against the people, in pursuit of their selfish political gains.
“The Nigeria Police is for all Nigerians and not for some powerful members of the ruling Party at the Federal Government” he also alleged.
He said Philip Shaibu even boasted that only one act from him has sent the PDP into hiding, and further said there are SCENES 2-5 loading, adding “this has given credence to our shouts that what the APC sponsored and committed at the airport and on airport road in Benin on 18/07/2024 the day he came to try to violently take over office, was scripted from Abuja with the APC gubernatorial candidate”.
“It is pertinent to note that the days in which political parties win elections by wanton intimidation are far gone and Edo people are going to stand firm in resistance to any form of harassment and intimidation by any group or persons, no matter how highly placed.
“We also want to categorically state that the Nigeria Police Force is not on the ballot for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, as it now appears to us that we are now contesting against the APC/ The Nigeria Police.
“It is therefore important that they, in the interest of peace and security in the State and country, read the mood of the nation and conduct themselves professionally as we approach the elections and ensure that they maintain law and order which is their constitutional responsibility.
We believe that this devious resort to harassment and intimidation is a recipe for anarchy and we are therefore calling on the Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone 5, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and other security agencies to step in and stop these harassments and intimidation by these suspected band of APC police operatives believed to be on illegal duty, to prevent a descent to anarchy in the State.
“We also call on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), other stakeholders and the international community to turn their attention to Edo State and take note of this rather disturbing pattern of harassment and intimidation by the police as sponsored by the APC in the build-up to the Edo State Governorship election slated for September 21.
“Efforts must be intensified to monitor activities leading up to the elections to ensure that government institutions, especially the police, do not undermine the wishes of the people at the polls.
“As a responsible Party and campaign Organization, we shall continue to abide by the rules of engagement as spelt out in the constitution and the Electoral Act. We will continue to market our candidates to the Edo People and resist every form of harassment and intimidation by any institution or agency of GOVERNMENT.
“One thing is sure, come September 21, Edo people will come out en-masse to show their resolve to remain under the umbrella of the PDP in the State by casting their votes for the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo and will stay to defend their votes, and no amount of threat, intimidation and harassment will stop the people or hinder the defeat that awaits the APC at the polls” he further declared.
