The Peoples Democratic Party Thursday refused to sign the peace accord because of the inability of the organizers to resolve its earlier protest, where the Party accused the Inspector General of Police of being biased and allegedly arresting only their members and INEC partisan Stand.
However, the gathering was to ensure peaceful conduct of the Edo State Governorship Election slated for the 21st of September and bring together all political leaders and Opinion observers to witness the signing of the peace accord.
The National Chairman of the Peace Committee and Former President of Nigeria, General Abdulsam Abubakar, advised all political parties to shun violence and embrace Peace.
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The political gladiators in Edo State were gathering at Prof Victor Uwaifo’s hub at the instance of Nigeria’s former head of state, General Abdulsam Abubakar, who retired.
Addressing the Politicians, the former head of state noted that Peace is sacrosanct and that all contestants and party supporters should see themselves as one.
Abdusalami said, “As you must have seen in the media, I met the governor yesterday, and he told me that the PDP is not going to sign this peace accord.
They have made some observations, and I was expecting the chairperson of the PDP to come and make that statement. After waiting for him this long, it is just to announce that the PDP said they were not going to sign; Channels TV referenced the former head of state.
The Inspector General Of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, assured voters in the state that the police will be apolitical in the conduct of the state Governorship Election, while the National Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission will do its best to ensure free and Credible Election.
However, it was at this point that the state PDP Chairman Tony Aziegbemi, in the presence of its candidate Asue Ighodalo, told the peace committee not to sign the peace pact since their complaints were not treated with action. However, all of us were gathered in the hall by surprise.
However, the APC candidate Monday Okpebholo, accompanied by some top leaders, signed the peace pact. Some other Contestants followed suit to sign the pact deal.
Why Obaseki and His Party Refused to Sign
Mr Abubakar informed Obaseki on Wednesday that the reason for the peace accord was to make sure”there is no mudslinging” during the campaigns and to ensure candidates accept the results “as long as it is free and fair” or explore court options
Obaseki said in a video posted on Facebook told Mr Abubakar that the Party met on Tuesday and decided not to sign the peace accord until some conditions are met.
The governor claimed PDP leaders are in hiding following the incessant arrest by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who obtained a court warrant in Edo State before arresting 60 of their members.
Obaseki said, “As we speak, there are about 10 in detention in Abuja without trial. Two days ago, they came to pick up a local government chairperson. This man (the chairperson) was attacked and shot at. He reported, and the police said he should come and give evidence, and he went; they arrested him as we speak; he is in Abuja.
He added, “I say, even if offences were committed in Edo State, why won’t you not charge the offences here and put them on trial here? Why take them to Abuja? Are these offences of high treason? And then in Abuja, why not charge them to court in Abuja? he queried.
Obaseki accused Egbetokun of undermining his office as the state chief security officer.
“And for me, my role as the chief security officer is being made nonsense of by the IGP because I heard the chairperson was arrested, and I called the commissioner of police. I say I understand this has happened; if there is anything, let me know. He said, I’ll come back to you, sir.
“He ignored me, I didn’t say anything the next morning by 4.am, he moved that person to Abuja and as we speak, they are all there.”
Obaseki is querying why the PDP should sign the peace accord when all their supporters are being intimidated and in detention without trial, saying they have no confidence in the police to protect them.
“No sir, (referring to Mr Abubakar) in the video. “Why should we? Because, clearly, what we are seeing is it’s going to be a very violent election, and they are going to use the forces of coercion and intimidation to win the election in Edo State, whether we like it or not: that’s the message.
“We say no until everybody arrested in Edo is released or brought back to Edo to be tried on whatever offences you claimed they have committed. We have no confidence that the police are going to protect us in this election, the governor said.
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