The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the immediate redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha, and the Commissioner of Police, Nemo Edwin-Iwo, ahead of the governorship election scheduled for September 21.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, PDP’s acting national chairperson, Umar Damagum, stated that the party has lost confidence in the ability of the current officials to conduct a free and fair election.
“We demand the redeployment of the REC and the Commissioner of Police to ensure the integrity of the electoral process,” Damagum said. “The situation in Edo State is further exacerbated by the attempt by the Inspector General of Police to unconstitutionally disband the Edo State Security Corps.”
The PDP’s demand comes after the party’s Edo State chapter refused to sign a peace accord facilitated by the National Peace Committee, citing the arrest and detention of its members. Governor Godwin Obaseki, the leader of the PDP in the state, stated that the party would not sign the peace accord until its members were released.
“We will not sign the peace accord until our members are released and we are confident that the police will protect us,” Obaseki said. “Saturday’s election may become very violent if our demands are not met.”
Damagum alleged that 16 PDP supporters have been arrested, detained, and tortured on trumped-up charges, adding that this was part of the APC’s plot to terrify the people and prevent them from voting.
“The PDP will not stand idly by while our members are being intimidated and harassed,” Damagum said. “We will continue to demand a free and fair election, and we will not back down until our demands are met.”
