Edo 2024: “The Police Cannot Be Trusted”, Group Insists

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

With just two days to the Edo State Gubernatorial polls, an advocacy Group, Edo Democracy Movement, EDM,  has lashed out at the Nigeria Police, accusing it of selectiveness in its enforcement of the law.

The group  noted that  while the police has been quick at hounding Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, elements, it has continued to pat on the back erring  All Progressive Congress, APC, stalwarts in the count down to September 21, 2024 election.

The Source reports that the EDM’s position is coming on the  heels of earlier accusations of bias against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the police authorities by  Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP in the State .

Governor Obaseki had led the PDP to ignore the signing of the pre-election peace accord with other participating parties ,citing alleged compromised stance of INEC and the police as major reason.

In a statement issued on Thursday, September 19, 2024, by its Coordinator Omoregbe Osayiuwa, the EDM particularly noted the refusal of the police to rein in one Blessing Agbomhere, a top shot of the APC, in the state who was captured in a video threatening the State Governor.

The group regretted that despite  directive from the Inspector General of Police  for Agbomhere to be arrested, the police authorities in Edo State have allowed him to be walking freely.

The EDM in its statement said the only way the Police can convince the people about its neutrality in the forthcoming election is for it to arrest the APC chieftain in line with the IGP’s directive.

“The failure to arrest Blessing Agbomhere for his dangerous and inflammatory statements against Governor Obaseki sends clear message to the people of Edo state that the police are biased towards the APC and cannot be trusted to ensure a fair election”, Osayiuwa stated .

Conversely, according to the EDM, the Police has always acted swiftly when it comes to arresting and clamping into detentions PDP followers and sympathizers .

The group alleged that in recent weeks ,several PDP members have been rounded up across the state and hauled into detention facilities in Abuja, without any formal charges preferred against them .

The EDM is of the view that with such open and unapologetic biased disposition of the police ,it is seriously doubtful if it will supervise a free and fair election on Saturday.