Edo: ‘How police aided APC officials, thugs to sack PDP from secretariat’

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Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Edo State caretaker committee, described on Friday how the All Progressives Congress (APC) forced him out of the party’s headquarters.

He said that police officers from the state Government House supported the APC officials.

According to ZINGTIE, Aziegbemi made this revelation during a press conference in Benin City with the headline “Criminal Trespass, Breaking and Entering, Stealing, and Malicious Damage.”

According to Aziegbemi, the APC has persisted in its violence, bribery, illegality, and assault on democracy.

He cautioned that the trend might cause law and order to collapse, resulting in turmoil and anarchy throughout the state.

According to him, the APC’s attack on the PDP secretariat located at 59 Airport Road in Benin City began at 13.31 pm on January 16, 2025.

“The APC, using several Hilux vans and other vehicles, and led by Jarret Tenebe, deployed their thugs, backed by police officers from the Government House, to sack the Peoples Democratic Party from its secretariat on Airport Road, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

“The entire operation was violent and brutal as has never been heard of or seen before and sadly it lasted for more than an hour.

“The secretariat was vandalized, and there was wreckage and destruction everywhere. Banners and other materials were taken off and destroyed. Lives were put in danger, including mine as the chairman of the PDP in Edo State.

“I was forcefully bundled out of my office in the amidst ofp brutal assault and violence against my person.

“No doubt this is arguably the worst attack on democracy in any part of Nigeria since the nation’s return to democracy in 1999.

“Even military regimes before 1999 were not as violent or brutal against dissenting voices as the Okpebholo-led government since they took over office on November 12, 2024.

“The violent take over of the PDP secretariat by Okpebholo and the APC is a clear reflection of the reign of terror that the people of Edo State have witnessed over the past two months.

“We state unequivocally that we are the legitimate tenants of the said property. It is the same devious tactics deployed to sack and intimidate duly elected council chairmen and the vice chairmen out of office, using horse whips and other dangerous weapons.

“It is the same pattern that is deployed in motor parks and markets, where thugs operating under the protection of the state government harass, intimidate, and extort transporters and traders daily without restraint.

“We must unequivocally state that Edo is at the precipice. Democracy in Edo State is on fire. Worst still, the police and other security agencies in the State who are supposed to put them in check appear to be either complacent or complicit,” the Edo PDP acting chairman alleged.

Additionally, he urged the Federal Government, foreign organisations, civil society groups, and other interested parties to restrain Governor Monday Okpebholo.

Aziegbemi emphasised that Okpebholo should be aware of the boundaries of his authority as governor, claiming that he had unleashed lawlessness in the state.

He cautioned that the state is currently experiencing a bad wind that will not benefit anyone.

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