Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Judiciary in the State, the Police and the Civil Service not to allow the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led State Government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to use them against its members in the build-up to the September 10 gubernatorial election.
The PDP, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris Nehikhare, alleged that the APC has perfected a plot to use the Police, the Civil Service and the Judiciary to take many of its prominent leaders out of circulation before the election and release them thereafter when the election must have been concluded.
According to the PDP, “In the last couple of weeks a lot of information has been coming to us from all manner of sources. As a responsible political party we analyze, investigate and authenticate before reacting.
“The latest is the shameful and unlawful directive issued to the Edo State Head of Service, Gladys Idahor, by the outgoing Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, as it concerns the standing as surety for arrested members of PDP in the days leading to the governorship election scheduled for September 10th.
“In a meeting with all Directors and Permanent Secretaries in the employ of the Edo State government, the Head of Service, Gladys Idahor, intimated them that there is going to be mass arrest of PDP leaders across the 18 Local government areas by the state police command.
“She went further to instruct them that on no condition should any of the directors or permanent secretaries in the employ of the state government stand as surety for anyone so arrested and charged to court. She explained that the idea was ‘just to remove them from circulation for the period of the election.’
The PDP stated further, “However, as we continue to exercise restraint and maintain peace in the face of tyranny and assault in the hands of compromised officers of the law, we want to put all lovers of democracy, the international community, especially the British High Commission, the American Embassy, the European Union, Civil Society Organizations and Election Monitoring Committee on notice that the arbitrary arrests and demonic detention of our members is an invitation to anarchy and a threat to democracy.
“We, therefore, call on all responsible individuals and institutions to join us in condemning the unlawful order, and dastardly plan of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his Party against our people who conduct themselves within the boundaries of the law.
“We urge the police, civil service and state judiciary not to allow themselves to be used to intimidate, harass and detain our members and to immediately release all those who have been thrown into police cells and prisons across the state under spurious allegations.”
It added, “At this point, we want to thank Edo people for the continued support and obvious decision they have reached to boot out APC in the governorship election. As a Party, we will ensure that your votes are protected; we will make it impossible for anyone or group of conspirators to change the decision we have all collectively arrived at.
“We must change the change that brought hunger, hardship and hate to Edo state. We have had enough of impunity and oppression.”
