By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, on Saturday January 18, 2025 described the invasion and occupation of its Secretariat by the All Progressive Congress, APC, as an open and dangerous invitation to anarchy.
This is just as the party called on the Federal Government, International Agencies ,Civil Society organizations and other stakeholders to rein in Governor Monday Okpebholo before he sets the state on the path for the break down of law and order.
The Source reports that some individuals suspected to be APC chieftains, members and sympathizers had on Friday, January 17, 2025, stormed PDP’s head office in Benin and drove away, everybody in sight.
The invaders, while rationalizing their actions claimed that the said Secretariat originally belonged to the APC but was forcefully taken over by the PDP during the reign of former Governor Godwin Obaseki four years ago.
But in a statement issued by its Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, the Edo state PDP also described the APC’s attack on the Secretariat as arguably the most provocative,and brazen in Nigeria’s democratic experience since 1999.
The party noted that the invasion is yet another clear evidence of the reign of terror being unleashed on the State by the APC-led State Government.
The PDP expressed serious concern over the growing rate at which the State is receding into a state of lawlessness .
The Party, equally, expressed shock and disbelief at the open complacencyand complicity being displayed by the Nigerian Police and other Security Agencies in the face of the gross impunity being unleashed by the APC administration in the state .
“The All Progressive Congress, APC, in Edo state has continued its brigandage, illegality and violent assault on democracy, and we are deeply worried that if unabated, it may snowball into a breakdown of law and order leading to anarchy and chaos in the state .
“At 13.31 pm yesterday, January 17,2025, the APC, using several Hilux vans and other vehicles, led by Jarret Tenebe, deployed their thugs, backed by Police Officers from the Government House to sack the Peoples Democratic Party PDP from its Secretariat on Airport Road, Benin City, the Edo state capital.
“The entire operation was violent and brutal as has never been heard of or seen before, and sadly, it lasted for more than an hour.
“The Secretariat was vandalized and there was wreckage and destruction everywhere. Banners and other materials were taken off and destroyed.
“Lives were put in danger, including mine as the chairman of the PDP in Edo state. I was forcefully bundled out of my office, with the help of Mr Speaker of the Edo state House of Assembly, Hon Blessing Agbebaku, amidst brutal assault and violence against my person.
“No doubt, this is arguably the worst attack on democracy in any part of Nigeria since the nation’s return to democracy in 1999.
“Even military regimes before 1999 were not as violent or brutal against dissenting voices as the Okpebholo-led Government since they took over office on November 12, 2024.
“Today’s violent takeover of the PDP Secretariat by Okpebholo and the APC is clear reflection of the reign of terror that the people of Edo State have been witnessing over the past two months.
“We state categorically that we are the legitimate tenants of the said property. We must unequivocally State that Edo is at the precipice.
“Democracy in Edo State is on fire. Worst still ,the Police, and other security agencies in the state who are supposed to put them in check appear to be either complacent or complicit”, the PDP statement reads in part.
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