Three weeks to the Edo governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun to stop the harassment and intimidation of party members by police in the state.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This is even as the party denied any merger talk with any political party in the country.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba said, “It is clear that the plan of the APC is to infuse fear in Edo State, heighten tension, instigate crisis and subvert the electoral process.”
Calling on the Inspector General of Police to immediately wade in and address the situation, the party said, “we also demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all Edo State citizens arrested by the APC-controlled security operatives in the State.
In the same vein, the PDP demanded an immediate investigation into apprehensions in the public domain that certain APC leaders have reportedly established secret cells in their houses and other locations where they are allegedly training and arming thugs who they intend to unleash on the peace-loving and law-abiding people of Edo State.
The party, which said its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo is coasting to a sweeping victory with no less that 65 % of the total votes expected at the election, further explained why the APC is scared of PDP.
“Due to the overwhelming popularity and acceptability of our candidate, the PDP Campaign in Edo State has become a movement, pulling support across all ages, professions, class, communities, sectional and even political affiliations with key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State openly and publicly campaigning and declaring support for Dr. Asue Ighodalo daily.
“This situation continues to send shockwaves to the APC and its uninspiring candidate, Monday Okpebholo, who, apparently mindful of his emptiness has refused to engage the people of Edo State, the media and continues to hide behind his godfather, Adams Oshiomhole.
“The APC being overwhelmed by the impending crushing defeat has resorted to sinister plots and antics to subvert and derail the September 21, 2024 governorship election having realized that its candidate, Monday Okpebholo is no match to PDP’s erudite Dr. Asue Ighodalo, whose manifesto and vision embody the collective aspiration and Will of the people of Edo State.
“After multiple failures to stop our candidate through the courts, the APC has been exploring ways to derail the electoral process, because it has no prospect whatsoever of winning the election.
“One of such antics was the attempt to manipulate the INEC bio-data process by fraudulently uploading emojis, pictures of foreigners, social media pictures and non-human photos as Polling and Collation Agents with the intent to smuggle in hired thugs to masquerade as Polling Agents and trigger crisis on election day.
“Additionally, the APC has in connivance with some compromised security operatives began to terrorize the people of Edo State by arresting, torturing and detaining them, particularly the youths so as to instill fear in the people and prevent them from exercising their Civic Duty.
“Notable among those arrested, harassed and dehumanized by APC-controlled security operatives include Mr. Kingsley Osahon who was arrested in Uromi, Mr. Odion Bright and Mr. Timothy Isibor who were arrested in Igueben.
“Last Wednesday, August 28, 2024, an attempt was made by the said APC-controlled operatives to arrest Chief Francis Inegbeniki, who recently defected from the APC to the PDP,” the party said.
PDP warned that no amount of threats, intimidation or harassment by the APC and its agents can cow or sway the people of Edo State from their resolve to elect Ighodalo of the PDP as the next governor of the State.
The party further said that APC must accept the clear fact that as far as the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State is concerned, Monday Okpebholo has no chance as the preference of the people of Edo State is in Ighodalo and the PDP.
Explaining that the party is not in any merger talk, PDP said, “for democracy to strive in this country, there must be a strong opposition.
There’s no merger talk in our party. Individual can do that, but at the party level, there’s nothing like that. People are talking, that cannot be elevated to a party talking.”
