Obaseki downbeat on signing peace accord as Edo guber tensions heighten

• Accuses police of war against PDP, IGP bans Edo security corps
• PDP chair alleges deployment of Wike’s associates to key positions
• INEC extends PVC collection, to deliver sensitive materials next week
• Oba of Benin okays traditional peace rite • NANS endorses Ighodalo

The climate ahead of the Edo State’s governorship election became disturbingly warm yesterday as Governor Godwin Obaseki indicated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign today’s peace accord.

The governor alleged that the police, responsible for enforcing the accord, have shown bias through their actions, acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obaseki disclosed this while receiving General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), National Peace Committee (NPC) chairman and former military Head of State.Abubakar was on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital, ahead of today’s signing of the accord.

The governor alleged that the police, under the manipulation of the APC, have arrested at least 10 PDP chieftains who they perceived as strong political opponents in the upcoming election.

These include Collins Aigbogun, the Chairman of Esan West Local Council, who was arrested and taken to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Obaseki said, “Unlike in 2020, I am very worried about the developments in the state today. The party met yesterday, and we might not sign this agreement. This is the first time we have witnessed that the person supposed to keep and enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.

“The opposition party in the state, the APC, has always argued that they may not be as popular and didn’t win in the last election but have promised to use federal might to determine the outcome. We thought it was just rhetoric, but in the last four weeks, we’ve had a situation where armed police officers from the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have come into Edo State to invade, arrest and take away PDP members.

“As we speak, there are 10 PDP members arrested and detained in Abuja without a trial. Two days ago, they came to pick up a local council chairman. The chairman was going back home when he was attacked and shot at. We reported it, and the police asked him to come and provide evidence. He came and was arrested. As I speak, he is in Abuja.

“Even if an offence has been committed in Edo State, why will you not charge the offences and try them here? Why take them to Abuja? Are the offences of high treason? Why not charge them to court?

“The IGP’s office came in, issued a warrant to arrest 60 PDP supporters, driving all our leaders into hiding. My role as the Chief Security Officer of the state is being made nonsense of by the IGP. I heard somebody was arrested and I called the Commissioner to inform him. He said he would get back to me, only to hear that he moved the person to Abuja.”

Obaseki added, “How can we sign a peace accord in this situation? Clearly, what they are saying is that it’s going to be a violent election and that they are going to use the forces of coercion and intimidation to win elections in Edo whether we like it or not.

“That is the message. Now that the IGP is in town, we say until everybody arrested is brought back to Edo and tried here in Edo for whatever offences they have committed, we have no confidence that the police will protect us in Edo State during the governorship election.”

ALSO, the Chairman of the PDP in Edo State, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, raised the alarm over the alleged deployment of associates of the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to act as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state and the Edo Commissioner of Police in the lead-up to the governorship election.

In a statement, Aziegbemi said, “We are worried that the election may have been compromised even before it starts. We are certain that the officials responsible for conducting a free, fair and credible poll are close associates of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

“The INEC REC in Edo is Wike’s cousin and served as a Special Adviser on Lands to him in Rivers State. Everyone in Nigeria knows Wike’s antecedents and conduct during Rivers State elections. So, we will not close our eyes and watch him deploy the same tactics in Edo State.

“The current Edo State Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, is also a close associate of Wike. We believe he would not act in the best interests of Edo people or even in the spirit and letter of the electoral act.”

MEANWHILE, the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, announced that local security outfits previously suspended in Edo State will remain suspended ahead of the election. He also stated that 35,000 police personnel, 8,000 armed forces members, and other security agencies would be deployed to the polls.

Egbetokun stressed that the Nigeria Police Force and other national security agencies within the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) are solely responsible for managing election security.

He warned that unauthorised security functions would result in immediate arrest and prosecution and urged potential troublemakers to refrain from disruptive actions.

Additionally, he specified that movements of persons and vehicles will be restricted from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the day of the election, and all orderlies and escorts to VIPs will be withdrawn, with alternative security arrangements provided.

MEANWHILE, the Edo State Government has said that the IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has no constitutional power to suspend the Edo Security Corps, as it is a creation of the Edo State House of Assembly.

In a statement, Osagie said, “The Edo State government insists that the ESC is a body set up by law passed by the Edo State House of Assembly.

“This is tantamount to the IGP disbanding the Western Nigeria Security Network popularly known as Operation Amotekun ahead of the governorship election in Ondo State billed for next month.”

ALSO, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) assured stakeholders that it is fully prepared for the Edo State governorship election. The commission said it has also arranged to deliver sensitive materials for the election early next week.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City yesterday. Yakubu disclosed that 184,438 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been delivered to Edo State, comprising 119,206 new voters and 65,232 verified applications for transfer.

He said that the commission has implemented 11 out of the 13 activities on schedule for the election, and there are only two outstanding activities. He added that the commission would invite political parties and other stakeholders to inspect the materials at the Central Bank in Benin before delivering them to local councils.

The commission further announced an extension of the deadline for collecting PVCs. The deadline was originally set for Sunday, September 8, 2024. However, it has been extended until Sunday, September 15, 2024. The collection exercise began on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

RELATEDLY, the leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Zone B, endorsed PDP governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo yesterday.
During a press briefing in Benin, Isaac Ogieva, Deputy Coordinator of NANS Zone B, stated that the zone’s leaders and students support the candidate.

Ogieva emphasised that anyone who does not support Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, is viewed as a coward or traitor. He mentioned that the decision to support Ighodalo and Ogie was made after consulting with relevant stakeholders and carefully considering the candidates’ proposals and manifesto, particularly their plans for education from primary to tertiary level and their commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerian students in Edo State.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) urged INEC to ensure the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election is free, fair, and peaceful. In a statement yesterday, the group expressed optimism that if INEC upholds the principles of constitutionalism and ensures transparency, the controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections could be mitigated.

Also, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, directed all traditional chiefs and leaders in the Benin Kingdom to perform the traditional ‘Bisusu ceremony to ward off evil ahead of the election. This was contained in a statement by Stanley Obamwonyi, the Esere of Benin, yesterday.