Edo Governor, Obaseki, Hints at Refusal to Sign Peace Accord over Police Bias

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has thrown a wrench into the preparations for the September 21 governorship election by indicating that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), may not sign the Peace Accord. The accord is a crucial agreement aimed at maintaining peace and order during the election period.

According to Obaseki, the police, responsible for enforcing the accord, have consistently demonstrated bias in their actions. He alleged that the police have arrested at least 10 PDP chieftains, including the serving Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Collins Aigbogun, in a "Gestapo-style" operation, taken them to secret holding centers, and refused to release them.

The governor further claimed that the police, under the influence of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have consistently disregarded his authority as the Chief Security Officer of the state. He said that he had requested due process be followed and that the matter be handled within the state’s jurisdiction, but his directive was ignored.

Obaseki’s concerns were raised during a meeting with General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), who was on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City ahead of the signing of the Peace Accord on September 12, 2024.

The governor also demanded the immediate unconditional release of the arrested PDP chieftains, pointing out that if they were legally arrested, they should be charged in courts in Benin City to answer for any infractions they are alleged to have committed.

Meanwhile, the State Chairman of the PDP, Anthony Aziegbemi, has raised additional concerns over the deployment of associates of former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state and as the Edo Commissioner of Police in the lead-up to the election.