By Raphael Okhiria
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State Chapter, has alleged that some members of the Nigeria Police Force, are currently working against the PDP in order for its arch rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to win the September 21, 2024, Gubernatorial election in the state.
Director-General of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who on Sunday addressed a press conference at the party secretariat in Benin City, accused the Edo State Police Command of devious resort to harassment and Intimidation for its members in the State.
Iduoriyekemwen urged all well-meaning Nigerians must intensified their efforts to monitor activities leading up to the Edo election, so as to ensure that government institutions, especially the police do not undermine the wishes of the people at the poll
While declaring categorically that the Nigeria Police Force is not on the ballot for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Iduoriyekemwen added “it now appears to us that we are now contesting against the APC/The Nigeria Police.
“It is therefore important that they, in the interest of peace and security in the State and country, read the mood of the nation and conduct themselves professionally as we approach the elections and ensure that they maintain law and order which is their constitutional responsibility.
“We believe that this devious resort to harassment and intimidation is a recipe for anarchy and we are therefore calling on the Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone 5, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and other security agencies to step in and stop these harassments and intimidation by these suspected band of APC police operatives believed to be on illegal duty, to prevent a descent to anarchy in the State.
“We also call on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), other stakeholders and the international community to turn their attention to Edo State and take note of this rather disturbing pattern of harassment and intimidation by the police as sponsored by the APC in the build-up to the Edo State Governorship election slated for September 21.
“Efforts must be intensified to monitor activities leading up to the elections to ensure that government institutions, especially the police, do not undermine the wishes of the people at the polls.
“As a responsible Party and campaign Organization, we shall continue to abide by the rules of engagement as spelt out in the constitution and the Electoral Act. We will continue to market our candidates to the Edo People and resist every form of harassment and intimidation by any institution or agency of government.
“One thing is sure, come September 21, Edo people will come out en-masse to show their resolve to remain under the umbrella of the PDP in the State by casting their votes for the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo and will stay to defend their votes, and no amount of threat, intimidation and harassment will stop the people or hinder the defeat that awaits the APC at the polls.
“It is rather unfortunate that while the PDP is diligently working, moving from ward to ward and local government to local government actively campaigning across various platforms, articulating their programmes and initiatives for the people of Edo State, the APC is attempting to weaponize the police against the people because they know they have a defective and unmarketable candidate and cannot win under any circumstance in a free, fair and credible election. Their only strategy is to use what they term federal might to harass and intimidate opposition parties into submission in their quest to secure electoral victory through subterfuge.
“The Police officers, who are being compromised to do the wishes of the APC, must remember that they are funded by tax payer’s money and must not allow themselves to be used by the APC against the people, in pursuit of their selfish political gains. The Nigeria Police is for all Nigerians and not for some powerful members of the ruling Party at the Federal Government”, he added.
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