- PDP Alleges: Edo Resident Electoral Commissioner Was Wike’s Aide
By Abiola Olawale
The Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concern regarding a what it called a perceived bias displayed by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) ahead of the forthcoming September 21 governorship election in the state.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State also raised these concerns, indicating that the PDP may not sign the Peace Accord on account of this.
Obaseki in his address while playing host to the Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), General Abdulsalam Abubakar, alleged that the police have allegedly shown interest in “protecting the will of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.”
Obaseki pointed out that the police have allegedly arrested not less than 10 PDP chieftains perceived as strong political opposition, including the serving Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Collins Aigbogun, who was arrested and taken to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
According to him: “You are very conversant with the politics of Edo State. You were here in 2020, and we had a very heated election. You know this is an off-cycle election and there is a lot of attention.
“Unlike 2020, I am very worried about the developments in the state today. The party met yesterday, and we might not likely sign this agreement. This is the first time we are witnessing that the person who is supposed to keep and enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.”
Also, the Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, similarly expressed concern over what he alleged to be the involvement of individuals with connections to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike in the state’s governorship election.
Aziegbemi highlighted that the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, previously served as Wike’s Special Adviser on Lands during his tenure as Rivers State Governor.
He also claimed that Edo state current Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, who was appointed to the state less than a month ago, is closely associated with Wike.
Aziegbemi said: “We are worried that the election may have been compromised even before it starts. This is because we are certain that the officials responsible for conducting a free, fair, and credible election are close associates of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
“The INEC REC in Edo is Wike’s cousin and served as a Special Adviser on Lands to him in Rivers State. Everyone in Nigeria knows the antecedents of Wike and his conduct during elections in Rivers State. So we will not close our eyes and watch him deploy the same tactic in Edo State.
“The current Edo State Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, is also a close associate of Wike. We believe he would not act in the best interest of Edo people nor even in the spirit and letters of the Electoral Act.”
