2 months ago
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The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has said that a new violence-free state is emerging, despite the killings and chaos that have been experienced during the campaigns for the September 21 governorship election in the state.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, said the APC is focused on acts that would promote transparency and free, fair and credible elections in the state.
He also described as baseless the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party that it connived with the police to harass and arrest its members.
The statement reads, “The public and media space is awash with the baseless allegations by the PDP of the arrest of its members by the police on the prompting and instigation of our party.”
“The APC would not have reacted to these unsubstantiated and rude allegations in order not to dignify the PDP, but this is profoundly done to set the record straight and to disabuse the intellectual minds of the curious Edo people.
“It must be stated emphatically that some weeks ago, a young man who was wickedly armed with a gun was arrested in Uromi, in Esan North Local Government Area of the state.
“News had it that the said boy made a confessional statement that the gun was procured for him and his cohorts by the Chairman of Esan North Local Government Area, to be used to fight their perceived political enemies, particularly members of the APC.
“It is also in the public space that during interrogation of the said boy by the police, he gave names of his co-travellers, who were on the run, some have now been arrested by the police in their diligent pursuit of these alleged criminals, while others are still at large.
“The police who ordinarily should be commended by the PDP, the party in authority in the state, has now been castigated for carrying out their civic responsibility, that is security of lives and property within the state.
“The PDP should condole itself for being insensitive to the insecurity which is very prevalent in the state.”
He added, “It is disturbing that the governor of the state has been making inciting statements that bother on treasonable felony when it was obvious from the available evidence that members of his party allegedly shot and killed a serving police officer, Inspector Akor Onuh, in their desperate attempt to assassinate the governorship candidate of our party, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“Those named in our petition to the Inspect General of Police are said to be having a haven in Government House under the brazen watch of the governor.
“We, therefore, use this medium to salute the police for their unwavering courage and profound determination to fish out those who are involved in this unholy crime to make the state safe for a free and fair election, come 21st of September, 2024.
“We also want to encourage the well-informed Edo people to completely disregard the claim by the PDP of the arrest and harassment of its members, as our party is focused on acts that shall promote transparency and free, fair and credible election in the state.
“We also use this medium to call on all security agencies in the state to be vigilant and operate above board in these trying times, because a new Edo is rising where APC shall provide succour to the teeming Edo people.”
Recall that the PDP on Sunday called on the international community, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to turn their attention to the election in Edo.
The party also accused the Nigerian Police of conniving with the APC to keep its members out of circulation.
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