The opposition All Progressives Congress in Edo State, in its desperation to win the forthcoming governorship election, has resorted to blackmail and intimidation of key supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
A group, the Committee for Good Governance, raised this alarm at the weekend, saying in its desperation, the APC is resorting to the use of security agencies to rein in key supporters of Ighodalo.
The statement signed by Abdul Osagie, said an armed thug was apprehended after a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area (ENELGA) and accused of being a PDP supporter.
The arrest has sparked serious allegations that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is plotting against key PDP figures.
The arrested thug is alleged to be linked to a prominent APC Federal lawmaker, raising concerns that the incident was a deliberate attempt by the APC to destabilize the PDP’s campaign.
According to Osagie, there are claims that the APC is attempting to indict and remove Hon Dr Kelly Inedegbor, the Chairman of ENELGA, using the Nigeria Police Force as a decoy.
“The APC is reportedly seeking to arrest and detain Inedegbor in Abuja, so as to neutralise his influence in the local government area as a key PDP foot soldier ahead of the election and disrupt the party’s local influence.”
The group said in view of these developments, it has raised a strong defence against what it described as a fabricated scheme by the APC.
According to him, the APC’s actions are a deliberate attempt to malign the local government Chairman.
The group stated, “Our attention has been drawn to a hastily concocted video circulating on social media, which we believe was orchestrated by Hon Odi Okojie and the APC.
“This response further confirms our suspicion that the situation was intentionally staged to discredit Inedegbor.”
The group reiterated that Inedegbor is generally known for his commitment to peaceful political processes, and has no record of violence and is adequately protected by standard police security measures.
The statement further noted that there was a need for all the security agencies in the state to be informed about the APC plots.
The group insisted that the individual featured in a viral video is reportedly connected to an APC chieftain, Ebosetale Agogo, and is related to former Vice Chairman, Hon Saturday Iyoha.
This connection, the group maintained, lent credence to the fact that the incident was orchestrated by the APC.
The group is therefore calling for transparency and fairness, warning that the tactics adopted by the APC might undermine the democratic principles at stake in the forthcoming election in September.
