Edo State PDP Chieftains Accuse Police of Harassment, Unlawful Arrest
In a press conference on Sunday, the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slammed the state police command for alleged harassment and unlawful arrest of its chieftains ahead of the September 21 governorship poll. The party accused the police of conniving with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to keep its members out of circulation.
According to Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, Director General of the Asue Ighodalo/Osarodion Ogie Campaign Management Council, the police have arrested Mr. Amos Tom and Kingsley Osahon, among others. Furthermore, Odion Olaye, Chief Francis Inegbiniki, Chief Olukoga, Festus Osaigbovo, and Kelly Inedegbor have been pencilled down for arrest, having allegedly procured a “fake” court warrant.
Iduoriyekemwen stated that the police officers, allegedly led by a Chief Superintendent, have been operating outside the scope of their job, wielding AK-47 rifles and other weapons, and moving around the state in Hummer buses and Hilux vans to harass and abduct party chieftains.
The PDP leader urged the international community, Civil Society Organisations, and other stakeholders to pay attention to the election, citing a disturbing pattern of harassment, unlawful arrest, and kidnap of its chieftains across the three senatorial districts of the state.
In response, the Director of Publicity, APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, denied any involvement in the alleged harassment, calling the PDP a “huge embarrassment” to itself. He accused the party of abandoning campaigns to focus on propaganda, citing a decline in their membership.
Omo-Ojo pointed out that the APC in Edo State has been under intense violent attacks from the state-sponsored Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and Public Work Volunteers (PUWOV), alleging that these groups were responsible for the murder of a security aide to Senator Monday Okpebholo.
The statement also mentioned that the Deputy Director General of Asue Ighodalo Campaign Organisation had openly charged PDP agents to attack members of the opposition in a viral video, with one individual, Martins, now standing trial for his pro-violent conduct.
As the election approaches, the tension between the two parties continues to escalate, with the PDP calling on Governor Obaseki to disband the Edo State Security Network to signal his party’s readiness for a peaceful election. However, a top police officer from the Edo State Police Command directed enquiries to the force headquarters in Abuja, raising questions about the investigation into these allegations.
