Edo 2024: We may not sign peace deal if police continue to work for APC, Obaseki tells Abdulsalami

Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the Peace Accord, a formal agreement between political parties to conduct themselves properly before, during and after the election, delivered by the National Peace Committee (NPC), led by former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The governor who stated this while receiving Abubakar who is the NPC Chairman in Benin City, alleged arbitrary arrest and intimidation of PDP members by the police in connivance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to win the state by any means.

Obaseki lamented that the police who should be responsible for enforcing the agreement, had shown through their actions that they were acting in the interest of the APC by waging war against the PDP.

Obaseki said he had no confidence in the police because they were playing out a scenario created by the APC by arresting top PDP leaders who they thought would be strong political opposition to them in the upcoming elections.

He added that some top PDP leaders, including the Chairman of Esan West Local Government, Honourable Collins Aigbogun, had been arrested and taken to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

“You understand politics in Edo State very well. You were here in 2020, and we had a very heated election. You know this is an off-cycle election and there is a lot of attention,” the governor said.

“Unlike 2020, I am very worried about the current developments in the state. The parties met yesterday, and we may not sign this agreement. This is the first time we have witnessed that the person who is supposed to guard and enforce the peace agreement is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.

“How can someone reach a peaceful agreement with a referee who from the start has shown bias towards one party in the election.

“The opposition party in the state, APC has always argued that they may not be as popular and did not win the last election, but have vowed to use Federal powers to determine the outcome of the election.

“We thought it was just rhetoric. However, in the last four weeks, we have had a situation where from the office of the Chief of Police, armed policemen came to Edo State to raid, arrest and take away members of the PDP.

“There are currently 10 PDP members arrested and detained in Abuja without trial. Two days ago, they came to pick up a local government chairman.

“The chairman was on his way home and was attacked and shot. We reported and the police asked him to come and testify, he came and was arrested. As I speak, he is in Abuja.

“Even if a crime has been committed in Edo State, why will you not charge the offence and prosecute them here in this State. Why take them to Abuja, if the offence is a crime of high treason? Why not charge them to court?

“The Chief of Police’s office came, issued an arrest warrant for 60 PDP supporters, made all our leaders go into hiding. My position as Head of State Security was belittled by the Chief of Police.

“I heard someone was arrested and I called the Commissioner to inform him. He said he would get back to me, but heard that he had transferred the person to Abuja.

“Tell me, sir, how can we sign a peace agreement in this situation? Clearly, what they are saying is that this will be a violent election and that they will use force and intimidation to win the election in Edo, whether we like it or not. That is the message.

“Now that the Police Commissioner is in town, we are saying until all those arrested are brought back to Edo and prosecuted here in Edo for whatever offences they have committed, we do not believe the police will protect us in Edo State during the governorship election,” Obaseki said.

Edo 2024: We may not sign peace deal if police continue to work for APC, Obaseki tells Abdulsalami first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.