Thirty-five days before the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress are at odds over alleged plots to compromise the election.
The PDP claims that “rogue policemen” from the Intelligence Response Team in Abuja, led by CSP Ibrahim Angbasa, have been paid by the APC to harass, attack, and kidnap PDP chieftains. Rev. Olu Martins, Deputy Director General for Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Council, stated:
“We are calling on the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, and the State’s Commissioner of Police to look into the case… These suspected rogue mufti-wearing police officers… 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.”
The PDP alleges that the police officers have arrested several PDP members and plan to abduct more to weaken the party ahead of the election.
On the other hand, the APC demands the arrest and investigation of Mr. Emmanuel Odigie for his claims on national television that people are calling for a military takeover and that he is aware of plans by the federal government to compromise the election in favor of the APC.
The Director of Publicity for the APC Edo Governorship Campaign Council, Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo, said: “Odigie’s words are highly inflammable and inciting… Nigerians are concerned about the reckless heinous plan to discredit the yet-to-be-held September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State… We request a thorough investigation of all his allegations, including those against the President and Commander in Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other top government officials.”
