PDP accuses Edo police of bias, supports APC ahead of gubernatorial election

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has accused the state police command of operating as part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

In a press conference in Benin on Sunday, Tony Aziegbemi, the state chairman of the PDP party, expressed concern that the police action could undermine the fairness of the upcoming elections. He alleged that the police had shown bias towards the opposition party.

“This is to express our concern over the attitude of the police towards equality for parties ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state,” Aziegbemi said. “The party has witnessed instances where the police have acted in ways that suggest they are a wing of the All Progressives Congress.”

Aziegbemi highlighted that police actions and inaction at both the state and national levels seemed to support the petition filed by the APC.

“The actions and inactions of officials at the state and national levels following these developments appear to be merely responding to the petition filed by the APC,” he added.

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He also noted several recent incidents that support his claim, including the arrest of Pastor Olu Martins, Deputy Media Director for the PDP Election Campaign Council. Martins was arrested following a petition, later arraigned in court, and released on bail.

Aziegbemi compared this to the lack of action on a petition he filed regarding threats made by the APC state chairman against Governor Godwin Obaseki.

“The video evidence of this threat and the accompanying petition have been submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Edo State. Surprisingly, no action has been taken on the matter since the petition was filed, unlike the prompt manner in which the Police responded to the petition against Martins,” he said.

The PDP chairman also accused police of deploying tactical teams to monitor and intimidate at least 22 PDP members and leaders.

In response, Edo State Commissioner of Police Funsho Adegboye said the cases had been transferred to Abuja. “Any observation or comment that one has should be directed to Abuja,” he said.

PDP accuses Edo police of bias, favors APC ahead of governorship election first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.