Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has tabled the release of arrested Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members as condition under which his party will any peace accord, for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
After a caucus meeting at Government House in Benin on Monday, Obaseki stated, “If they are granted bail, allowed to come back home to their families and participate in the democratic process, we would consider signing the peace accord.”
He expressed optimism about the party’s victory in Saturday’s election.
Obaseki praised the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetoku, and INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for committing to a free and fair election. “We are pleased with the current utterances from the security agencies… ensuring a level playing field for all players.”
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Confident in the party’s preparation, Obaseki urged leaders to mobilize support across the state. “We want to say that we are ready for this election… our leaders have assured me that they are heading back home to cross the Ts and dot the Is on Saturday.”
On Thursday, all political parties participating in the Edo election signed a peace accord to shun violence before, during and after the polls, but the PDP declined to participate in what has become a pre-election ritual in Nigeria’s electoral space.
Former Head of State, General Adulsalami Abubakar, who is the head of the Peace Committee had said that PDP chieftain and outgoing governor (Obaseki) said the party won’t sign the peace pact over some allegations leveled against the police.
PDP Chairman in the state, Tony Aziegbemi, also stormed out of the peace pact venue in protest on Thursday.
He told journalists on his way out that a member of his party who doubles as Esan West Local Government Area Chairman, Collins Aigbogu, was picked up by the police days ago and had not been released.
The governor had also emphatically said his party is not likely to sign the peace pact, seeing that the police was biased in favour of another party also taking part in the election.
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