The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has said it has doubts about the neutrality of the police and Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) in the September 21, Edo State governorship elections.
Consequently, the PDP is demanding for the for immediate redeployment of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Nemo Edwin-Iwo, and the state Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC), Anugbum Onuoha, ahead of the polls.
The acting national chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, who made the demand at a press briefing, at the Wadata Plaza, Abuja, said it is clear that majority of voters in Edo State have settled for its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, as their preferred choice for the governorship seat.
Regardless, Damagum said the police has allegedly being arresting and detaining PDP members, in the run-up to the governorship contest. The party chairman said the members of the opposition party are ready to defend their votes in the Edo governorship contest with their blood.
According to him, “As I address you today, no fewer than 16 of our members and supporters have been arrested in Edo State on trumped-up charges with some of them whisked to Abuja where they are detained and tortured. In the same vein no fewer than 15 others have been marked for arrest by the police on trumped-up charges.
“The intention of the APC in this sinister plot is to terrify the people of Edo State, prevent them from coming out to vote and seize the opportunity to manipulate and rig the election, a plot which is being firmly resisted by the people.
“The situation in Edo State is further exacerbated by the attempt by the Inspector General of Police to unconstitutionally disband the Edo State Security Corps statutorily established by the Edo State House of Assembly.”
Furthermore, Damagum added that “the PDP demands that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu immediately redeploys the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr. Anugbum Onuoha from the State especially now that people are already agitated against this obnoxious appointment.
“This is not only to guarantee a credible governorship election in Edo State but also to avert the ugly scenario witnessed in the 2023 Adamawa State Governorship election where a biased Resident Electoral Commissioner and other INEC officials nearly lost their lives in the hands of agitated electorate.”
