The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has raised concerns about the police’s impartiality, alleging that they are showing bias in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the lead-up to the September 21 governorship election.
Edo PDP Chairman Tony Aziegbemi, speaking to journalists in Benin on Sunday, expressed the party’s unease with the prevailing attitude of the people.
Aziegbemi said, “This is to express our concern about the disposition of the police ahead of the September 21, governorship election in the state.
“The party has witnessed instances where the police acted in a manner that suggested that they are a wing of the All Progressives Congress.
“The operatives’ actions and inaction at the state and national levels paint a picture that they are working for the APC.”
Aziegbemi said a few weeks ago, the Deputy Director of Media for the PDP Election Campaign Council, Rev. Olu Martins, was invited and arrested by the police based on a petition against him.
He noted that Martins was subsequently arraigned in court and granted bail after meeting the necessary bail conditions set by the trial judge.
He added, “However, I, the chairman of the PDP in Edo State wrote a petition over comments by the chairman of the state’s chapter of the APC where he threatened to mobilise and lead youths to stone Governor Godwin Obaseki.
“A video evidence of this threat and an accompanying petition was submitted to the Commissioner of Police in Edo State.
“Surprisingly, no action has been taken on the matter since the petition was submitted unlike the swift manner in which the police responded to the petition against Martins.
“The police have also deployed a tactical team of policemen to arrest and harass at least 22 members and leaders of the PDP who are currently under heavy surveillance.”
However, Edo State Police Commissioner Funsho Adegboye has refuted the allegations of bias made by the PDP, maintaining that the police remain impartial and neutral.
“Whatever observations or comments anybody has should be directed to Abuja,” Adegboye told our correspondent on Sunday.
