…accuses police of partiality
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State on Thursday declined the signing of the Peace Accord organized by National Peace Committee (NPC) to ensure peaceful elections, accusing the police who are the agency responsible for enforcing the accord of partiality.
The party, through its chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, said entering a peace accord with an umpire who, from the outset, has shown bias, acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP, would amount to a mere jamboree.
“The immediate and unconditional release/production of all persons currently in unlawful custody or all these persons if alleged to have committed any crime should be immediately brought before a court of competent jurisdiction in compliance with all civilized constitutional processes.
“The immediate redeployment of the current Edo State Commissioner of Police and the current Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and their replacement with persons who can exhibit fairness and balance in the performance of their functions and who do not have any links to the contending parties or vested interests in the process.
“The immediate recall of any external Police Team/Squad from Abuja or any other location in Nigeria currently marauding in Edo State, illegally arresting perceived political opponents and creating undue tension in the State.
“An undertaking and commitment by the Nigeria Police and INEC to operate a level playing field without allowing themselves to become a private army at the behest of one of the contending parties.”
