By Folorunso Alagbede, in Abuja
The Edo Salvation Group, ESG, has called on the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee, NPC to investigate allegations of bias by the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the approach to the governorship election in the state.
The group particularly charged the committee to interrogate claims that officials of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP were being locked up by the police.
The ESG, in a statement issued by its coordinator, Mani Ekpe on Thursday, expressed concern that the Abubakar panel has, for the first time since its advent in 2015, been unable to bring the major election contenders to a peace table.
Noting the arrest of several officials of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the group expressed concern over reports that more officials of the PDP campaign have been marked out for arrest.
According to the ESG, “We are shocked that what ordinarily should be an election has turned into a terror for parties that pose a threat to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“We particularly note that for the first time the National Peace Committee is unable to bring the different parties to sign a peace accord. This is as a result of the distrust by the PDP and some other parties on the actions of the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“It is on this note that we call on the Abubakar Committee to address the issues of bias particularly made against the police and INEC. No one can enter an election with the fear that the referee is against him or her. That is the chorus in Edo State today and we thus call on the Abdulsalami Abubakar Committee to in the interest of securing the peace of the nation to interrogate this development”, it said.
The group also expressed concern over speculations that the Director-General of the PDP Governorship Campaign, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and other directors of the campaign have been marked for arrest should not be taken lightly.
Continuing, it said, ‘Instead of arresting more officials, we urge the police to retrace its steps and where issues are established against anyone such should be taken to court immediately”.
