APC has given indications of pulling out of peace accord with other political parties in Edo, ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The climate of tension surrounding the September 21 Edo governorship election , rose higher on Thursday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) gave indications of pulling out of peace accord with other political parties, ahead of the poll. APC took this unusual step less than two hours to the accord exercise.
This is coming on the heels of earlier remarks by the governor Godwin Obaseki that his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the peace accord because the party has lost faith in the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Obaseki gave the hint while receiving the Chairman of the Presidential Peace Committee, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
APC stated its position in a press conference at the party secretariat. The State chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe said the party’s reason was that for over two months after a Police Inspector Onuh Akor who was the orderly to the candidate of the party, Sen Monday Okpebholo was shot and killed along Airport Road, nobody has been arrested and prosecuted, despite claims by the former Commissioner of Police, Funsho that “the command had the names of those who murdered Inspector Onuh Akor at the Benin airport.”
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He alleged that rather getting the suspects arrested, Governor Obaseki is keeping them in the government house.
Tenebe said, “This failure of the police has emboldened the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Peoples Democratic Party to attack members of our political party at rally grounds and in their private business premises ceaselessly.”
He claimed that the governor has made inflammatory statements that have undermined his position as the Chief Security Officer of the State.
He chronicled the various attacks the APC campaign team have suffered in different communities Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Esan West local government area while mobilising supporters for the election.
“In the wake of this very worrisome and dangerous trend, Governor Obaseki kept mute and refused to condemn the attacks as the Chief Security Officer of the state. Instead, one Odion Olaye, the Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress in Edo State, while in the company of Obaseki, openly threatened the country that, “Nigeria will burn if INEC fails to declare the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election.”
He mentioned several other chieftains of the PDP who he alleged have publicly boasted that they would do anything and go away with it and that the party’s petition to the police about these incidents with the names of suspects attached have not been treated.
He said “The summary of these episodes is the unwillingness of Obaseki to embrace peace and the refusal of the security agencies to guarantee a peaceful environment for the conduct of September 21st, 2024 scheduled election.”
As part of its demand to sign the peace accord, Tenebe said the police should be seen to taking steps to declare those fingered in the killing of the police allegedly being hidden in government wanted.
Stating his own fears on the situation at hand, the governor, in a statement he signed on Tuesday, expressed worry that “In the last few weeks, the Police under the manipulation of the APC, have arrested not less than 10 PDP chieftains who they perceive would be strong political opposition to them in the coming election. This came to a head with the arrest and whisking to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, of the serving Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Collins Aigbogun.”
Obaseki added; “what we can see in the build up to the September 21 election, is what looks like a deliberate plan by elements within the ranks of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to prevent a peaceful election and stoke chaos in Edo State”.
