By Akinwale Kasali
Less than 40 days to the Edo State Governorship Election, the two top political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have continued to trade words, alleging plots and counter plots to compromise the forthcoming Election.
The PDP had alleged that intelligence reports it received have it that the APC is plotting to cause unrest in the State and destabilize the electoral process.
A statement by the Deputy Director General for Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Council, Rev. Olu Martins, called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, and the State Commissioner of Police to look into the case of some suspected “rogue policemen” from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja who the party alleged may have been paid huge sums by the APC to harass, attack and kidnap PDP chieftains across the three (3) senatorial districts of the State.
The statement reads, “These suspected rogue mufti-wearing police officers led by CSP Ibrahim Angbasa , have been operating outside the scope of their job, carrying AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, harassing and arresting PDP chieftains across the State.
“Since they began their sinister operations, they have arrested Hon. Kingsley Osahon, the Counselor Representing Ward 10, in Esan North East Local Government Area of the State, and a few other people who we currently don’t have their details.”
Olu Martins continued: “We are also aware that they have a long list of major PDP chieftains across the State’s three senatorial districts who they are planning to abduct for the political purpose of weakening the PDP ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election slated for September 21, 2024.
“Some names believed to be on this list include the Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area (LGA), Dr. Kelly Inedegbor, among others, whose identities have yet to be confirmed.
Countering PDP’s claims the APC, in a statement by Director of Publicity, Edo Governorship Campaign Council, Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo, called for the arrest of Mr Emmanuel Odigie and investigate his claim on national television that people are calling for the military to take over the government and his claims that he was aware of plans by the federal government using the Vice President, the Senate President and the Chief of Staff to the president to compromise the Edo election in favour of the APC.
The APC stressed that, “More worrisome is the allegation that the presidency has concluded plans to rig the election in favour of Senator Monday Okpebholo. Odigie also claimed during his Arise interview, that “…some forces in the Presidency including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila have perfected plans with some notable APC leaders in Edo State to rig the forthcoming September 21st Governorship Election in Edo State while President Tinubu will be on a disguised trip out of the country.
“Like a fly destined to follow a corpse into the grave, Odigie told his bewildered audience that some so-called integrity group members were present in every meeting where these plans were held.
“In the light of the danger that Mr. Emmanuel Odigie has become, the APC and indeed Nigerians are requesting for a thorough investigation of all his allegations – including those he made against the President and Commander in Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima; Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the Inspector General of Police.
“This arrest and prosecution of Emmanuel Odigie will thwart whatever plans his integrity group has put in place to destabilize Nigeria. It will go a long way to also ensure the sanctity of the ballot box in Nigeria, including the September 21, 2024 Governorship Election in Edo State.”
