Victor Ezeja
There is a fresh tension in Edo State ahead of the 21st September governorship election, as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has declined to sign the Peace Accord.
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, confirmed it at the venue of the peace accord signing ceremony in Benin on Thursday, 12th September 2024.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAlso, the PDP state chairman, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, said the party can only sign the accord if members of the party arrested by the police are released.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki hinted at the possibility of the party not signing the peace accord when he received the head of the Peace Committee, Abubakar, who was on a courtesy visit to Government House, Benin City.
The governor accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of colluding with police to hound, harass and arrest PDP members, deemed to be strong opposition.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the governor claimed that there is a clear signal that the police are allegedly acting in the interest of the APC.
“Until everybody (party members) arrested in Edo is released or brought back to Edo to be tried for whatever offences you claimed they have committed, we have no confidence that the police are going to protect us in this election,” Obaseki said.
Though the PDP and its candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo, did not sign, other parties including the APC and its candidate, Mr Monday Okpebholo, signed the peace accord.
Also, the Labour Party and its governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, signed the accord.
Other political parties that signed the accord are the African Action Congress (AAC), Accord Party (AC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Peoples Party (ACP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) among others.
READ ALSO: Edo Election: Atiku Joins Obaseki In Calling For Release Of PDP Chieftains Detained In Abuja
APC had at a press conference earlier raised concerns about growing atmosphere of insecurity in the state as the election comes closer.
The State APC Chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, made reference to the killing of a Police Inspector, Onuh Akor, along Airport Road Benin two months ago. Inspector Akor was the orderly to the APC Governorship candidate, Sen Monday Okpebholo.
Tenebe said nothing has been done about arresting and prosecuting those alleged to be involved in the crime.
He accused the governor of failing to do anything about the matter since then.
“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,” Tenebe stated.
He alleged that some PDP chieftains had publicly boasted that they would do anything and go away with it, adding that APC’s petition to the police about these incidents with the names of suspects attached have not been treated.
He also accused Obaseki of refusing to embrace peace in the state as election approaches.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
