Edo gov poll: Opposition fears violence as PDP shuns peace accord

•Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; Chairman, National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, (retd); Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; convener of NPC, Bishop Matthew Kukah; governorship candidates and representatives of the political parties, during the signing of the Peace Accord by political parties and governorship candidates ahead of the 2024 Edo State governorship election in Benin City…on Thursday. Photo: INEC

The Peoples Democratic Party’s decision on Thursday not to sign the peace accord ahead of the Edo State governorship election September 21 has sparked reactions and concern in the state, ahead of the poll, The PUNCH reports.

Of the 17 political parties contesting the poll, 16 signed the treaty, with the ruling PDP the only party which declined to be part of the agreement.

This comes as  INEC begins the distribution of Permanent Voter Card today. The three-day exercise ends on Sunday, according to the electoral body.

 The state PDP chairman, Anthony Aziegbemi, and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, were present at the peace accord signing but stoutly declined to follow suit.

Aziegbemi hinged their action on the alleged arrest of 10 PDP members currently detained by the police in Abuja.

He said, “We are here to register our protest before the peace committee and to say that the PDP will not sign a peace accord when 10 of our members have been arrested and detained by the Police in Abuja.”

His disapproval comes in the wake of a denial by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who announced at a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday that he was not aware of the development.

INEC concern

However, The Chief Press Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Committee chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in an interview with The PUNCH expressed worry that the PDP shunned the accord, which he said was geared towards ensuring a peaceful, free and fair governorship election in Edo State.

He said, “It is unfortunate that the PDP decided not to sign the accord. But they can still do so. We appeal to them to have a change of heart and sign the accord, which is geared towards ensuring a peaceful, free and fair governorship election in Edo State.

“We don’t have any fear as a commission because first, we know that Edo people are peace-loving. Secondly, security agencies have assured us (INEC) that they will not allow any form of violence. However, we are concerned that the PDP is not in the fold as far as the peace accord is concerned,” Oyekanmi added.

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, hinted on Wednesday that the PDP might not sign the Peace Accord, expressing concern that the police, under the influence of the APC, had arrested no fewer than 10 PDP chieftains perceived as strong political opponents, including the serving Chairman, Esan West Local Government Area, Collins Aigbogun, who was arrested and taken to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Remarkably, the APC had also threatened to pull out of the accord.

The state APC chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, who stated this at a press conference on Thursday morning, said the inability of the police to arrest members of other parties responsible for attack on their members, informed the decision.

In a statement, Tenebe said, “It has become imperative for our party, the All Progressives Congress to tell Nigerians why we are not predisposed to be a signatory to Peace Accord.

First, two months ago, the then Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, told Nigerians that the command had the names of those who murdered Inspector Onuh Akor at the Benin airport. Inspector Akor was shot by members of Edo State Security Network when they unleashed mayhem on APC supporters, who were at the airport to receive the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, who was with the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, while returning from Abuja.

“It is saddening to note that for more than two months that this ugly incident took place, the police are still unable to arrest and prosecute those that have been identified to be involved in the callout and unprovoked attack, as Governor Obaseki, who professed and proclaimed that he is the Chief Security Officer of the state, has warehoused these callous and notable hoodlums in Government House.”

Remarkably, few hours to the peace pact, the state chapter of the APC had also threatened to pull out.

The state APC chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, who stated this at a press conference on Thursday morning, said the inability of the police to arrest members of other parties responsible for attacks on their members informed the decision.

In a statement, Tenebe said, “It has become imperative for our party, the All Progressives Congress to tell Nigerians why we are not predisposed to be a signatory to Peace Accord.

First, two months ago, the then Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, told Nigerians that the command had the names of those who murdered Inspector Onuh Akor at the Benin airport. Inspector Akor was shot by members of Edo State Security Network when they unleashed mayhem on APC supporters, who were at the airport to receive the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, who was with the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, while returning from Abuja.

“It is saddening to note that for more than two months that this ugly incident took place, the police are still unable to arrest and prosecute those that have been identified to be involved in the callout and unprovoked attack, as Governor Obaseki, who professed and proclaimed that he is the Chief Security Officer of the state, has warehoused these callous and notable hoodlums in Government House.”

However, the APC, after signing the accord, said PDP’s refusal to sign confirmed APC’s position that the party had plans to derail the election.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, said, “Our concern has been confirmed. Any political party that does not sign the peace accord, what this portends is that that party does not mean well for the state.

“If the PDP, the ruling party in the state, which has the Chief Security Officer and the leader of the party, refused to sign, it means they have plans to derail the process of the election.

“We are happy that all that happened in the presence of the police, who have the apparatus to checkmate their excesses. We challenge the police to be above board and be alive to their duties, that is to ensure that the election is conducted peacefully even though there are signals that the PDP is trying to suffocate the people who are determined to vote them out of government.

“We are not deterred by their action, we have told our people to be peace-loving, play according to the rules and we are campaigning till the last day authorised by the law. We are ready to ensure that a peaceful environment is created for the peaceful conduct of the election on September 21. The PDP are not the owners of the state and I am sure the police are ready to take care of any infraction on Election Day.

The Public Relations Officer of the Labour Party, Sam Uruopa, said his party was also worried over the issue because the refusal to sign the accord could put the state in panic mood “due to the violence that the APC and PDP have visited on themselves.”

Uruopa said, “So, if anyone of them is refusing to sign the peace accord, it goes to show that there is more violence in the offing. They visited violence on us during the House of Assembly and local government elections in the state and that should no longer be tolerated.

“We have it on good authority that they have mobilised thugs and armed men in places they are not popular. They are also aware that the people are not with them.

“We are also worried because we hear that uniforms have been procured to give to their thugs to pretend as security operatives. For them to refuse to sign the peace accord shows that they are up to something sinister.”

PDP give conditions

The state PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, in a protest letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the state REC, Prof. Anugbum Onuoha, should be redeployed –  saying he is the cousin of the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike – along with the state Commissioner of Police Nemo Edwin-Iwo, ahead of the September 21 governorship election.

He added, “The said Edo REC also served as a Commissioner and Special Adviser for Lands, Survey and Housing to Minister of FCT, Mr. Wike, during his tenure as Rivers State Governor

“With the antecedents between these two, we are not comfortable that the Edo REC will conduct himself creditably before, during and after the election.

“We are therefore requesting the redeployment of the Edo REC as we are not confident that he will be fair, just and equitable in the conduct of the election because of his close relationship with Mr. Wike. “Also, we will like to bring to your notice that the recruitment of the Supervising Presiding Officers for the forthcoming election may have been compromised.  We have it on good authority that in the recruitment process for the SPOs, non-commission staff members with fake Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDAs) identity cards were given special consideration above actual INEC and MDA staff members.”

In another letter to the Chairman, Peace and Reconciliation Committee, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (retd), Aziegbemi said their party members were either arrested or harassed, which did not present a level playing ground for the election.

He called for the immediate and unconditional release/production of all persons currently in unlawful custody or all the persons, if alleged to have committed any crime, should be immediately brought before a court of competent jurisdiction in compliance with constitutional processes.

He added, “We also call for the immediate redeployment of the current Edo State Commissioner of Police (Nemo Edwin-Iwo), the current Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission and their replacement with persons who can exhibit fairness and balance in the performance of their functions and who do not have any links to the contending parties or vested interests in the process.

“(We also call for) the immediate recall of any external Police Team/Squad from Abuja or any other location in Nigeria currently marauding in Edo State, illegally arresting perceived political opponents and creating undue tension in the state, an undertaking and commitment by the Nigeria Police and INEC to operate a level playing field without allowing themselves to become a private army at the behest of one of the contending parties.

“We wish to state that our party and our candidates have the utmost confidence in the goodwill and peace-loving nature of Edo people and we are willing to submit ourselves to their democratic choice under a free, fair and untainted process.”

Also, at a conference in Abuja shortly after the PDP National Working Committee meeting on Thursday, the PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, vowed that party members would defend their votes with blood and explained that they did not sign the National Peace Committee’s accord due to concerns about the APC-led administration.

Damagum urged IGP Egbetokun and INEC chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to ensure a smooth election in Edo State.

He added that their demands aimed to ensure a credible governorship election in Edo State and prevent a situation similar to the 2023 Adamawa State election, where a REC and INEC officials faced life-threatening violence from an angry electorate.

“So, as regards the signing of the peace accord, nobody is shirking responsibility; rather, we are pointing out to Nigerians that there is something suspicious under this APC-led administration, with police being paid with taxpayers’ money.”

On if the party would participate in the election, Damagum added, “We are going to participate. We will come out, and we will defend our votes with our blood.

“Let them be very, very clear about that. We could not sign or be part of it because we gave a condition, and it is their responsibility to ensure that these conditions are met. If they arbitrarily arrest members of only one particular party, then that means there is something you do not know. So, what peace are we signing for?”

Damagum stressed that, for the elections to be free and fair, the IGP must uphold his responsibilities to the Nigerian people, adhere to the constitution and ensure peace and security in Edo State and across the nation.

He stated, “The IGP should immediately redeploy the Edo State Commissioner of Police CP Nemo Edwin-Iwo so as to guarantee confidence, peace and security during the Edo State governorship election. The IGP should immediately release of all members of the PDP being detained by the Police.

“The IGP should desist from interfering in the activities of Edo State Security Corps, a body lawfully established under the law.

“The PDP demands that the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, immediately redeploys the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (Dr. Anugbum Onuoha from the state, especially now that people are already agitated against this obnoxious appointment.”

Damagum added, “Furthermore, the APC is attempting to infiltrate and compromise INEC by reportedly influencing the appointment of a known APC apologist and supporter, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, who is notorious for his partisan association with APC leaders, as the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner.

“The appointment of this overtly partisan individual as Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner is completely unacceptable as he is susceptible to bias, manipulations by the APC and therefore not in position to guarantee a transparent, free, fair and credible governorship election in Edo State.”

Abdulsalami olive branch

National Peace Committee boss Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former Head of state, noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki had on Wednesday raised the issues of police bias and set out conditions to be met by the police before PDP could sign the Peace Accord.

He said, “I expected Dr. Aziegbemi to have stated that before the committee and political parties rather than his outright refusal to sign the accord. The PDP still have the opportunity of signing the peace accord by coming to Abuja to do so,” he added.

War of words

Meanwhile, the APC on Thursday said its governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was halfway through to victory following the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo’s refusal to sign the peace accord.

The National Publicity Director of the ruling APC, Bala Ibrahim, in a phone chat with our correspondent, said he found the action of the PDP, which is presently in control of the state administration, condescending.

“Going by the submission, if there is a peace plan and someone comes to say he won’t commit himself in writing to the arrangement, one needs not be a soothsayer to know that person is anti-peace. This is so, particularly when you look at the fact that the party is under the control of the party in rebellion,” Ibrahim said.

“I don’t see any reason the PDP should refuse to sign the peace accord. It is an indication the party knows it is going to lose the election and I use this opportunity to congratulate the APC and our peaceful candidate, Senator Okpebholo, in advance.”

However, Damagum asserted that Okpebholo stood no chance in the election and accused the APC of employing violence, manipulation, and police operatives to allegedly harass and detain innocent PDP members and supporters in Edo State.

He stated, “You will recall that the PDP had earlier raised the alarm on the reported activities of a terror squad going by the name, IGP response team ,which, on the instruction of APC leaders are hounding, arresting and torturing members and supporters of the PDP especially those who recently decamped from the APC to the PDP.

“Reports reaching our party is that the said APC-controlled torture squad arresting and detaining our members is allegedly operating with the knowledge of the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Nemo Edwin-Iwo.

“As I address you today (Thursday), 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.”

INEC meets transporters

Following the recent surge in fuel prices, INEC is set to meet with transport unions on Friday (today)  in Benin City, the Edo State capital, to discuss logistics for the upcoming election, The PUNCH learnt.

Concerns had been raised about the availability and cost of transportation for the timely distribution of election materials such as ballot boxes, voting machines and other sensitive materials while INEC members of staff and security personnel, might face transportation issues.

Transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, provide vehicles for INEC during elections.

Amid growing concern on whether the unions would be able to offer the same level of service, given the increased operational costs, INEC said it had fixed the meeting for today.

The meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Benin City, is part of INEC’s broader efforts to ensure the smooth conduct of the election by addressing potential logistical challenges.

INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, confirmed the meeting on Thursday.

“We are meeting with the transport unions in Edo on Friday (today).”