THE Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has alarmed that the continuous arrest of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) chieftains by the police ahead of the gubernatorial election in the state is capable of snowballing into unavoidable crisis in Edo.
Obaseki made the assertion in statement he personally signed on Tuesday night and made available to newsmen in Benin.
He said that “elements within the rank of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are colluding with the Police to hound, attack and lock up PDP members, in order for them not to participate in the forthcoming election in the state.
The governor expressed worry that in the last few weeks, the Police under the alleged manipulation of the APC, has arrested not fewer than 10 PDP chieftains who the opposition party in the state according to Obaseki, perceives would be strong political counterparts to the APC in the coming election.
He said that the above position came to a head with the arrest and whisking to Abuja, of the serving chairman of Esan West local government area, Honourable Collins Aigbogun.
He said: “On learning of his arrest, I reached out to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, asking that due process be followed and that the matter be handled within the state’s jurisdiction.
“This directive was flouted, directly undermining my authority as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the State. We also have it on good authority that a rogue police team has been provided with a long-list of PDP chieftains to be arrested and detained until after the election.
“All petitions and appeals to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) have not dissuaded men of the Police from going about with the mandate of intimidating members of the PDP and launching sting operations to capture, kidnap and lock up PDP chieftains across the State.”
Governor Obaseki, therefore demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chieftains who were said to have been arrested by the Police.
According to the governor, “If these PDP leaders were legally arrested, we demand that they should be charged to courts in Benin City to answer for whatever infractions they are alleged to have committed and not to be subjected to perpetual incarceration, as now obtains.
“It is clear that the APC and its agents are not interested in a peaceful and credible election in Edo State. The conduct and the collusion with federal government institutions to undermine the electoral process spell a clear danger that must be averted.
“We have improved the security situation in the State and have, through coordinated efforts by the Edo State Security Council, ensured that the State is arguably the most peaceful State in the South-South, resulting in increased inflow of investment.
“It is against this backdrop that Edo people seek a peaceful election and seamless transition of government that would not disrupt the tranquillity and stability in the State,” he added.
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