The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has alleged unlawful arrest of its members and chieftains by officers of the Nigeria Police in the state.
Mr Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, Director General of the PDP governorship candidate Campaign Management Council for the September 21 poll in the state, stated this in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Sunday.
But in a reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Edo Command, Moses Yamu, debunked the allegations, advising the PDP not to bring the police into its politics.
“I am not aware of any arrest of PDP member or any party member and if there was any allegation like that I don’t know except they (PDP) want to politicise the whole stuff,” Yamu said.
Iduoriyekemwen had alleged that members of the party across the three Senatorial District in Edo were arrested without committing any crime by policemen suspected to attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja.
Iduoriyekemwen described the arrest as disturbing to the party, saying the police ought not to be in contestation with the PDP ahead of election.
According to him, policemen have arrested some members of the party in the state, including Mr Amos Tom and Mr Kingsley Osahon, the councillor representing ward 10 in Esan North East Local Government Area, along with several others whose whereabouts, he said, are currently unknown.
He added: “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.”
Reacting on behalf of the APC, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, the Director of Publicity APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council, knocked the PDP for engaging in propaganda as part of its campaign agenda.
He said: “Nobody is harassing PDP in Edo. PDP has abandoned campaigns to concentrate on mischievous propaganda to cover up their failure to articulate campaign strategy which has become obvious with their dwindling members.
“We call on the leadership of the PDP to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies in the investigation of the various crimes that have been committed by its members.”
READ ALSO: Family of six dies after eating local delicacy in Kano