The Governorship campaign management teams of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State have come into conflict ahead of the September 21 election.
Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, Director-General of the PDP’s campaign council, launched a scathing attack at a press conference in Benin, accusing unnamed APC leaders of conspiring with certain police officers to target, harass, and intimidate PDP members, with the aim of sparking unrest in Edo State.
He said: “We urge the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, to maintain the high integrity that is associated with his office, and also note that the Nigeria Police are for all Nigerians, and not the extension of APC.
“We also call on the IGP to use his good offices to cause an unbiased and thorough investigation, based on our complaints.”
Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo, Director of Publicity for the Edo APC governorship campaign council, hit back at Iduoriyekemwen and other PDP leaders, accusing them of being dishonest and withholding the full truth.
Omo-Ojo said: “Governor Godwin Obaseki and his handpicked godson, Asue Ighodalo, are agents of destabilisation. Their action, so far, is an attempt to harrass the police and block investigation of the violent crimes they have visited on the state and its people.
“In a saner clime, the PDP’s government in the state would have disbanded the Edo State Security Network (ESSN).”