Story Summary:
- Edo Police Warned Against Partisanship: The Edo State Police Command has been urged to maintain neutrality ahead of the September 21 gubernatorial election, with concerns raised over potential bias.
- Edo Movement for the Masses Issues Caution: In a statement signed by leader Eriki Johnson, the group cautioned the police against arresting PDP members on “flimsy grounds,” warning this could escalate tensions.
- Accusations of APC Favouritism: The group claimed the police have shown partiality towards the All Progressives Congress (APC), ignoring alleged acts of hooliganism by its supporters while harassing those conducting lawful campaigns.
- PDP Members Arrested: The Edo State Government alleged that 10 PDP members, including a local government chairman, were arrested and transferred to Abuja by the police.
- Call for Police Impartiality: The group stressed that the police should serve the public without political bias, calling for fairness as the election approaches.
With just 10 days to go before the September 21 poll, the Edo Movement for the Masses on Wednesday, urged the police to remain neutral.
Signed by its leader, Eriki Johnson, the statement advised the Police to allow politicians to contest fairly without undue interference, particularly raising concerns over the potential arrest of members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on what they described as “flimsy grounds.”
The group warned that unwarranted arrests of PDP members could escalate tensions across the state. “From their actions so far, it appears the police are not impartial, but instead aligning with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in every way,” the statement read.
It also accused the police of turning a blind eye to “clear cases of hooliganism” allegedly perpetrated by APC supporters, while focusing on intimidating those conducting lawful campaigns.
The group reiterated that the police should serve the general public without political bias.
This follows claims by the Edo State Government on Tuesday, alleging that 10 PDP members, including a local government chairman and personnel from the State Vigilante Network, had been arrested and taken to Abuja by the Nigeria Police.
Chris Nehikhare, the state’s commissioner for communication and orientation, confirmed the arrests, raising concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.
