The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has voiced serious concerns about the potential for unfair practices in the upcoming governorship election due to the involvement of individuals connected to Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory Minister. The party fears that the presence of these individuals could compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the PDP chairman in Edo, has formally expressed these worries in a letter addressed to Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Aziegbemi highlighted a significant conflict between Governor Godwin Obaseki and Wike, raising concerns that officials linked to Wike might not act impartially.
In his letter, Aziegbemi pointed out that Anugbum Onuoha, who currently serves as the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), previously worked as Wike’s Special Adviser on Lands during Wike’s tenure as Governor of Rivers State.
This connection raises concerns about Onuoha’s ability to oversee the election fairly.
Additionally, Aziegbemi noted that the new Commissioner of Police for Edo State, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, was appointed less than a month ago and has close ties to Wike. This recent appointment, coupled with the alleged association with Wike, has led the PDP to question the neutrality of the police in maintaining a fair election environment.
The PDP is also troubled by allegations regarding the recruitment of Supervising Presiding Officers (SPOs) for the election. Aziegbemi claimed that the recruitment process may have been tainted by the inclusion of individuals with fake Ministry, Department, and Agencies (MDAs) identity cards. According to Aziegbemi, these individuals were given preferential treatment over genuine INEC and MDA staff members.
He suggested that this irregularity might be part of a larger scheme to disrupt the election and manipulate results, potentially undermining the credibility of the entire electoral process.
In light of these issues, Aziegbemi outlined several actions that the PDP believes are necessary to ensure a fair and transparent election:
• Immediate Redeployment of Officials: The PDP calls for the immediate removal and replacement of the current Edo State Commissioner of Police and the REC. They argue that these positions should be filled by individuals who are unbiased and have no connections to the competing parties or vested interests.
• Release of Detained Individuals: The PDP demands that anyone currently held in unlawful custody be released immediately. If any of these individuals are accused of a crime, they should be promptly brought before a court of competent jurisdiction to ensure due process is followed.
• Withdrawal of External Police Teams: There is a call for the withdrawal of any external police teams or squads from Abuja or other locations that are allegedly causing tension and making unlawful arrests in Edo State.
• Commitment to Fairness: The PDP seeks a firm commitment from the Nigeria Police and INEC to operate impartially and not act as a private force for any political party.
The PDP has expressed confidence in the goodwill and democratic spirit of the people of Edo State and is prepared to sign a Peace Accord once these conditions are met. They believe that addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process.
