Francis Ogbuagu 
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is demanding the immediate redeployment of Edo State Commissioner of Police Nemo Edwin-Iwo, and the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr Anugbum Onuoha.
The party had earlier in the day, refused to sign the peace accord organised by the National Peace Commission (NPC), for parties and candidates contesting the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
The PDP acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, accused the Commissioner of Police and REC of bias towards the party.
Damagum alleged that the CP unjustly arrest and detain PDP members.
According to him, “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.”
He added that the intention was to terrify the people of the state, prevent them from coming out to vote, so as to create the opportunity for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate and rig the election.
Damagum stated that the situation was further exacerbated by the attempt by the Inspector General of Police to disband the Edo State Security Corps statutorily established by the Edo State House of Assembly.
He said there were apprehensions in the state as the attempt by IGP Police is to allow the APC thugs to have a field day to unleash violence on the people and pave way for manipulation of the election in favour of the APC.
“The IGP must recognise his duty to the Nigerian people, the Constitution and the sustenance of peace and security in Edo State and the entire nation,” he advised.
The acting National Chairman therefore, called for immediate redeployment of CP “Edwin-Iwo so as to guarantee confidence, peace and security during the Edo State governorship election.”
He also called for the release of all members of the PDP being detained by the police, adding that the IGP should desist from interfering in the activities of Edo State Security Corps, a body, he said, was established under the law.
Damagum accused the Edo REC of partisanship, bias, and alleged that he would manipulate the governorship election in favour of the APC, “and therefore not in position to guarantee a transparent, free, fair and credible governorship election in Edo State.”
He claimed that the APC is attempting to infiltrate and compromise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by influencing the appointment of a known APC apologist and supporter.
Damagum stated that the only way to guarantee credible governorship election in Edo State is for the INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to redeploy REC Onuoha from the state.
“This is not only to guarantee a credible governorship election in Edo State but also to avert the ugly scenario witnessed in the 2023 Adamawa State governorship election where a biased Resident Electoral Commissioner and other INEC officials nearly lost their lives in the hands of agitated electorate,” he said.
