The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has outlined the conditions under which it would sign the Peace Accord initiated by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Accord Committee (NPAC) ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state.
It will be recalled that the PDP declined to sign the Peace Accord during the signing ceremony held in Benin City on Thursday morning, citing concerns about the impartiality of the Nigeria Police Force.
Dr. Tony Aizegbemi, PDP Chairman for Edo State, addressed a press conference at the party’s secretariat on Thursday evening. He stated that for the PDP to sign the Peace Accord, all PDP members detained in police formations across the country must be released, or alternatively, charged in competent courts if they have committed any crimes.
Additionally, the party called for the immediate redeployment of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Nemo Edin-Iwo, citing his alleged relationship with someone close to the APC. The PDP also demanded the removal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, alleging that he is a close ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Aizegbemi, who read two separate letters sent to the NPAC and INEC, described Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun as grossly incompetent and biased against the PDP, leading the party to lack confidence in him.
The Edo PDP Chairman reiterated the party’s respect for General Abubakar (Rtd) as a former Head of State and assured that if the conditions were met, the PDP would sign the Peace Accord at any location in Nigeria.
In the letter to NPAC, personally endorsed by him, the PDP Chairman stated that while “the people of Edo State are well known to be peaceful and law-abiding, particularly in the conduct of elections,” he regretted that “strange and disturbing new elements” had been introduced, particularly by a party that seems unable to prevail in a free, fair, and peaceful election.
“That Party and its senior officials have openly boasted about their intention to deploy ‘Federal Might’ to ensure victory despite the will or wishes of Edo people,” he said.
He highlighted incidents such as the deployment of APC thugs on the streets of Benin City on July 18, 2024, resulting in the death of a police officer. Aizegbemi emphasized that there was no evidence linking PDP members to the incident and accused the APC of using rogue policemen to arrest and detain PDP members without charges.
“This situation threatens to create unrest as those threatened may resort to self-defense, risking violence and disorder with less than two weeks to the election,” he warned.
ALSO READ: FG signs CTC agreement to reduce airline operating cost
Aizegbemi provided a list of 27 PDP members arrested and detained in undisclosed locations, some for up to two months, and argued that requesting the party to sign the Peace Accord under these circumstances would be unfair and unreasonable.
The party’s conditions for signing the Peace Accord include:
- Immediate and unconditional release or charging of all individuals currently in unlawful custody.
- Redeployment of the current Edo State Commissioner of Police and Resident Electoral Commissioner with individuals who can demonstrate fairness.
- Recall of any external police teams currently operating illegally in Edo State.
- A commitment from the Nigeria Police and INEC to ensure a level playing field without bias.
The PDP stressed its confidence in the goodwill and peace-loving nature of Edo people and stated its readiness to sign the Peace Accord once these conditions are met.
In the letter to INEC Chairman Professor Mahmud Yakubu, Aizegbemi raised concerns about the Edo REC’s links to a known partisan opponent of the PDP, citing familial ties and previous associations with Nyesom Wike. He requested the redeployment of the Edo REC, expressing concerns about his impartiality.
The letter also alleged that the recruitment of Supervising Presiding Officers (SPOs) for the election may have been compromised, with some recruited individuals holding fake identity cards.
Aizegbemi called for the removal of these individuals and urged that only lawfully prescribed participants be allowed to play this sensitive role.
PDP governorship candidate Asu Ighodalo and the Director General of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, expressed confidence that the PDP would win the election with a level playing field and reiterated that only the people of Edo would determine the election’s outcome.
