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By Ozioruva Aliu, BENIN CITY
THE Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday gave reasons why it did not sign the peace accord midwifed by the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar some of which it said included alleged open bias of the police and lack of confidence on the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).
Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat, the chairman of the PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbiemi, the governorship candidate of the party, Dr Asue Ighodalo, the Director General of the Asue Ogie Campaign Management Council, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and other leaders of the party said several members of their party have been arrested and whisked to Abuja.
He said 16 of their members were being harassed or have been arrested, five of them have been arrested for more than six weeks, and six of them declared wanted.
Aziegbiemi said it was obvious that the police and the INEC were in an alliance with the All Progressives Congress “In the course of preparations for this election however, strange and disturbing new elements have been introduced in particular by a Party that has concluded that it cannot prevail in a free, fair and peaceful election which is the APC.
“That Party and its senior officials have openly boasted about their intention to deploy ‘Federal Might’ to ensure victory despite the will or wishes of the Edo people.
“The situation has subsequently degenerated into an all-out reign of terror where members of the APC are acting as pointers for effecting the illegal arrest and rendition of the said PDP members without charge.”
He said the PDP would be ready to sign the pact if there is immediate and “unconditional release/production of all persons currently in unlawful custody or all these persons if alleged to have committed any crime should be immediately brought before a court of competent jurisdiction in compliance with all civilized constitutional processes.
“The immediate redeployment of the current Edo State Commissioner of Police, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and their replacement with persons who can exhibit fairness and balance in the performance of their functions and who do not have any links to the contending parties or vested interests in the process
“The immediate recall of any external Police Team/Squad from Abuja or any other location in Nigeria currently marauding in Edo State, illegally arresting perceived political opponents and creating undue tension in the State.
“An undertaking and commitment by the Nigeria Police and INEC to operate a level playing field without allowing themselves to become a private army at the behest of one of the contending parties.”
On his part, the candidate of the party, Ause Ighodalo appealed to President Bola Tinubu not to dent his democratic credentials by ensuring the democratic principles were allowed to play in the election because according to him, he has campaigned around the state and he has the support of the people of Edo State and would win the election.
The post Edo 2024: Why we did not sign the peace pact – PDP appeared first on Vanguard News.
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