The statement noted that PDP members have been campaigning diligently, moving from ward to ward and local government to local government actively engaging the people across various platforms, articulating their programmes and initiatives for the people of Edo State.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Team Asue Media Organization (TAMO) has called on the police to end all forms of “harassment, intimidation and outright victimisation” of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State and allow a level-playing field for all political parties ahead of the September 21 governorship election.
The organisation stated this in a press release on Wednesday in which it expressed disappointment at the “uneven handedness” of the police in the state.
The statement said, “In the last two months, leaders and chieftains of the party have expressed their concern about the overt partisanship of the Police Force but there has been no assurance from the Police to the party hierarchy.
“Not long ago, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, Director- General Asue/ Ogie Campaign Management Council, raised the alarm at a press conference in Benin City in which he detailed what the party has suffered in terms of arrest, harassment and intimidation of members. Curiously, there has been no move to address the party’s complaints.
“Mr Iduoriyekemwen listed some of the arrested chieftains of the party to include Mr Amos Tom and Kingsley Osahon, the Councillor representing Ward 10 in Esan North East Local Government Area. He also alleged that the whereabouts of several other members of the PDP are currently unknown.
READ ALSO:
Edo Youth Movement mobilises support for Ighodalo, Ogie as rallies begin in Esan South
“He made it clear that intel at the party’s disposal showed that a list of prominent PDP chieftains from across the state’s three senatorial districts had been compiled and even fake court warrants of arrest with names of PDP members had been procured all in a bid to weaken the PDP ahead of the forthcoming election.
“Some of the names believed to be on the list include, Chief Odion Olaye, Chief Francis Inegbiniki, Chief B. Olukoga, Mr Festus Osaigbovo, Dr. Kelly Inedegbor, the Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area, among others whose identities have yet to be confirmed.”
TAMO said it “considered this development by a supposed national Police Force, brazenly taking side with a political party in an electoral contest as rather unfortunate.”
It noted that while the PDP has been campaigning diligently, moving from ward to ward and local government to local government actively engaging the people across various platforms, articulating its programmes and initiatives for the people of Edo State, the opposition parties are attempting to weaponise the police against the people.
TAMO called on the police not to allow themselves to be used in giving meaning to the boast by the opposition to deploy federal might to win the election. It insisted that the police should provide a level-playing field.
TAMO equally emphasised the need to bring to justice all the thugs that were captured in various amateur videos causing mayhem in Benin City on July 18, the day former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, accompanied by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, Monday Okpebholo, came to Benin purportedly to assume duty following a Federal High Court judgment.
It tasked the police to demonstrate their readiness to be impartial and unbiased before, during and after the election by publicly announcing their neutrality ahead of the election.
