Edo Guber: PDP and APC Blame Each Other Over Alleged Harassment of Members

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the state police command of harassing and unlawfully arresting its leaders ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

The party also called on the international community, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders to pay attention to the election.

At a press conference on Sunday in Benin, the state capital, the Director-General of the Asue Ighodalo/Osarodion Ogie Campaign Management Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, said police had arrested some party members, including Amos Tom and Kingsley Osahon, while others had been scheduled for arrest on ‘fake’ court warrants.

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“It has become imperative to highlight the disturbing pattern of harassment, unlawful arrest and abduction of leaders of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party in three senatorial districts of the state by some policemen suspected to be from the Intelligence Response Team in Abuja who are believed to have been paid huge sums of money by the All Progressives Congress,” Iduoriyekemwen said.

He alleged that the police officers, led by a Chief Inspector, had been operating beyond the scope of their duties, using AK-47 rifles and other weapons, and moving around the state in Hummer buses and Hilux vans to harass and abduct party leaders.

However, the Director of Publicity, APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, denied the allegations, saying no one was harassing any PDP member.

“The Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State has disgraced itself with its incessant media attacks on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in the country,” Omo-Ojo said in a statement.

“The PDP has stalled its campaign to concentrate on sleazy propaganda to cover up its failure to articulate a campaign strategy which has become apparent with its dwindling membership. Nigerians will recall that the All Progressives Congress in Edo State was subjected to violent attacks by the state-sponsored Edo State Security Network, ESSN and Public Works Volunteers, PUWOV.”

Omo-Ojo also accused the PDP of planning and carrying out violent attacks on opposition members, citing the killing of Senator Monday Okpebholo’s security aide.

 

Edo Guber’s post: PDP, APC trade blame over alleged harassment of members first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.