The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Edo State chapter has said that it’s lack of confidence in the police and the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, is the reason it refused to sign the peace pact by the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The party accused police of open bias which it said may affect the outcome of the election.
The party’s position was made known by its chairman Tony Aziegbiemi, the governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo and the Director General of the Asue Ogie Campaign Management Council, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen during a press conference on Thursday.
They accused the police of intimidating and arresting several members of the party and took them to Abuja.
According to Tony, 16 PDP members have been arrested out of which five of them have been in detention for more than six weeks, and another six put on wanted list.
Tony further said the actions of the police against its members is an indication they are working in alliance with INEC and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to intimidate its members.
The chairman accused the APC of resorting to intimidation knowing fully well that’ it cannot prevail in a free, fair and peaceful election.’
“That Party and its senior officials have openly boasted about their intention to deploy ‘Federal Might’ to ensure victory despite the will or wishes of the Edo people,” he said.
He expressed PDP’s readiness to sign the peace accord if the police release all its members who are in detention or charge them to court if they had committed any offence.
Other conditions he gave is the immediate redeployment of the current Edo State Commissioner of Police, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner and be replaced with new ones, recall of police squad to Abuja and stopping of illegal arrest of ‘perceived political opponents.’
The party also demanded an undertaking and commitment from the Police and INEC that level playing ground would be created for all parties to contest.