The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday raised the alarm over harassment, torture and arrest of members and supporters in Edo state ahead of the governorship election scheduled for September 21.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, the Acting National Chairman of PDP, Amb. Umar Damagum said, “we want to use this medium to alert Nigerians that since the All Progressives Congress (APC) realized that they have no chance in the election, they have resorted to violence, manipulations and using some rogue police operatives to harass, arrest, torture and detain innocent citizens of Edo State, particularly members and supporters of the PDP.”
The party restated its earlier position on the activity of a terror squad going by the name, IGP response team which, on the instruction of APC leaders are hounding, arresting and torturing members and supporters of the PDP especially those who recently decamped from the APC to the PDP.
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“Reports reaching our Party is that the said APC-controlled torture squad arresting and detaining our members is allegedly operating with the knowledge of the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, CP Nemo Edwin-Iwo.
“As I address you today, no fewer than 16 of our members and supporters have been arrested in Edo State on trumped-up charges with some of them whisked to Abuja where they are detained and tortured. In the same vein no fewer than 15 others have been marked for arrest by the police on trumped-up charges.
“The intention of the APC in this sinister plot is to terrify the people of Edo State, prevent them from coming out to vote and seize the opportunity to manipulate and rig the election, a plot which is being firmly resisted by the people,” it said.
The party further said that the situation in Edo State is further exacerbated by the attempt by the Inspector General of Police to unconstitutionally disband the Edo State Security Corps statutorily established by the Edo State House of Assembly.
“There are apprehensions in Edo State that this is attempt by IGP Police to allow the APC thugs to have a field day to unleash violence on the people and pave way for manipulation of the election in favour of the APC,” the party said.
The PDP for the umpteenth time cautioned the APC and the compromised Police operatives to note that they have pushed the people of Edo State to the wall and that the reaction of the people in the face of these unwarranted attacks and assault is better imagined.
“The APC is stretching the patience and forbearance of the people of Edo State to the limits and should be ready to face the consequences.
“Furthermore, the APC is attempting to infiltrate and compromise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by reportedly influencing the appointment of a known APC apologist and supporter, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha.
“The appointment of this overtly partisan individual as Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner is completely unacceptable as he is susceptible to bias, manipulations by the APC and therefore not in position to guarantee a transparent, free, fair and credible governorship election in Edo State,” the party said.
