The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has raised the alarm over alleged intimidation of its members by Governor Godwin Obaseki and threats of arrest by Commissioner of Police in the state.
This was disclosed in a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Senate Committee Chairman on Police Affairs, Abdulhamid Madori and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Hashimu Argungu.
The move comes barely three months to the governorship election in the state slated for September 21.
In the petition, Edo APC chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, accused Obaseki of using security apparatus in the state to harrass its members as part of moves to allegedly weaken opposition parties and create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the poll.
The petition read, “I am the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Edo state chapter and have the honour and privilege to bring to your attention the high level of intimidation and harassment being orchestrated by the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki. While it is safe under the Freedom of Information Act that anyone who feels dissatisfied with any policy implementation of the government at any level can ask questions about same, the governor does not see to the effectiveness of any opposition to his government policies.
“To make good his threat of strangulating any opposition, he deploys all forms of security apparatus within the state both conventional and self created, to carry out his vindictiveness. He has promised to deal mercilessly with any person who dares him particularly at this time of our electioneering in the state.
“Against the backdrop of the aforesaid, he has deployed the office of the commissioner of police to cause my arrest just for political reasons. I have been informed at my party secretariat that in my absence, police brought an invitation for me to be interviewed by the commissioner of police over a petition written against me by the governor.
“Information at my disposal is that the governor has ordered the police to lay siege to my party secretariat where we are to perform the inauguration of our campaign council tomorrow with a view to arresting me just to score a political point. I thereby solicit your timely intervention by transferring the said case if any to your office for a discreet investigation. I count on your esteemed office in doing justice to this unwarranted harassment.”