By Jethro Ibileke
The Asue/Ogie campaign management council has accused the police of harassing, intimidating and unlawfully arresting members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo State.
The Director-General of the council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, made the allegation while addressing journalists on Sunday.
He stated that the party’s members across the three senatorial districts are being haunted by policemen suspected to be from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja.
He decried what he described as a ” disturbing pattern of harassment, unlawful arrest, and the kidnap of chieftain” of the PDP, allegedly influenced by the opposition APC.
He said: “These police officers allegedly led by one CSP Ibrahim Angbasa, have been operating outside the scope of their job, carrying AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons and moving around the State in Hummer buses and Hilux vans, to harass and abduct our party chieftains across the State.
“These policemen are said to be deployed by one DC Sanusi Muhammad of the IRT, Force Headquarters, in Abuja.
Another police officer, DC Patrick Ejedawe, from Uromi, Edo Central, popularly called “Citadel”, is also said to be in active connivance with these unauthorized police officers to carry out this dastardly acts in the State.”
Iduoriyekemwen mentioned the names of those allegedly arrested as Mr Amos Tom, and Hon. Kingsley Osahon, the Councillor representing Ward 10 in Esan North East Local Government Area, along with several others whose said whereabouts are currently unknown.
He further alleged that the police 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.
“It is rather unfortunate that while the PDP is diligently working, moving from ward to ward and local government to local government actively campaigning across various platforms, articulating their programmes and initiatives for the people of Edo State, the APC is attempting to weaponize the police against the people because they know they have a defective and unmarketable candidate and cannot win under any circumstance in a free, fair and credible election.
“Their only strategy is to use what they term federal might to harass and intimidate opposition parties into submission in their quest to secure electoral victory through subterfuge.
“The Police officers, who are being compromised to do the wishes of the APC, must remember that they are funded by tax payer’s money and must not allow themselves to be used by the APC against the people, in pursuit of their selfish political gains. The Nigeria Police is for all Nigerians and not for some powerful members of the ruling Party at the Federal Government,” Iduoriyekemwen stated.
He warned that “the days in which political parties win elections by wanton intimidation are far gone and Edo people are going to stand firm in resistance to any form of harassment and intimidation by any group or persons, no matter how highly placed.
“We also want to categorically state that the Nigeria Police Force is not on the ballot for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, as it now appears to us that we are now contesting against the APC/ The Nigeria Police.
“It is therefore important that they, in the interest of peace and security in the State and country, read the mood of the nation and conduct themselves professionally as we approach the elections and ensure that they maintain law and order which is their constitutional responsibility.
“We believe that this devious resort to harassment and intimidation is a recipe for anarchy and we are therefore calling on the Inspector-General of Police, AIG, Zone 5, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and other security agencies to step in and stop these harassments and intimidation by these suspected band of APC police operatives believed to be on illegal duty, to prevent a descent to anarchy in the State.
“We also call on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), other stakeholders and the international community to turn their attention to Edo State and take note of this rather disturbing pattern of harassment and intimidation by the police as sponsored by the APC in the build-up to the Edo State Governorship election slated for September 21.
“Efforts must be intensified to monitor activities leading up to the elections to ensure that government institutions, especially the police, do not undermine the wishes of the people at the polls.
“As a responsible Party and campaign Organization, we shall continue to abide by the rules of engagement as spelt out in the constitution and the Electoral Act. We will continue to market our candidates to the Edo People and resist every form of harassment and intimidation by any institution or agency of government,” he concluded.
Reacting to the allegations the Director of Publicity of APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council, Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo, stated that nobody was harassing the PDP.
He alleged that the PDP in the State has become “a huge embarrassment to itself with its unrelenting media attack on the Nigerian Police, and other security agencies in the country.”
According to him, the 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.
As at the time of filing this report, the image maker of Edo police command, Moses Yamu, could respond to calls and text messages sent to him.