Obaseki warns of plans to arrest PDP leaders ahead of Edo election

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has raised alarms over an alleged plot to illegally arrest members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the state’s gubernatorial election on September 21, 2024.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Obaseki claimed that there is a plan, reportedly involving the Nigeria Police Force and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), to detain PDP stalwarts and create unrest in the lead-up to the election.

“I have it on good authority that the plan is to arrest as many PDP stalwarts as possible. This is a very dangerous trend and poses a real threat to our democracy.

READ ALSO: Obaseki warns of crisis, accuses APC of police collusion ahead of Edo election

— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) September 10, 2024

“It is unbecoming of officers of the Nigeria Police Force to connive with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to illegally arrest and detain members of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and to stir up crisis in Edo State in the lead-up to the guber poll,” the governor said.

“I have it on good authority that the plan is to arrest as many PDP stalwarts as possible. This is a very dangerous trend and poses a real threat to our democracy.

“A situation where the sitting local government chairman of Esan West is arrested and whisked away to Abuja, undermining my authority as the Chief Security Officer of the State is totally unacceptable.

“I strongly appeal to the supporters of the PDP to remain calm and peaceful.”

Obaseki described the alleged plot as a significant threat to Nigeria’s democracy, emphasizing that such actions undermine his authority as the state’s Chief Security Officer.

He cited the recent arrest of the sitting local government chairman of Esan West, who was reportedly taken to Abuja, as an example of this disturbing trend.

The governor urged PDP supporters to remain calm and peaceful and vowed to formally report his concerns to Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police.

The upcoming election features Monday Okpebholo of the APC, Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), and Asue Ighodalo of the PDP as the main contenders for the governorship position.