Pro-Democracy and human rights group, Concerned Nigerians, has condemned the ‘siege’ on the hotel where Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are staying in Benin City, ahead of the Edo state governorship election.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Pastor Poulinous Nsirm, had said in a press statement that “what was more disturbing (about the siege) was that the policemen led by DIG Leye Oyebanji had allegedly been very audible with threats that the governor should leave Edo State”.
The action of the security operatives has attracted criticisms by some Nigerians who claimed the move is to give the All Progressives Congress, APC an undue advantage during the poll.
“We condemn in its entirety the siege by soldiers and police officers at the hotel of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and other PDP leaders in Benin ahead of the gubernatorial elections.
“It’s instructive to note that there are currently six (6) APC governors in Edo State and the entire National Working Committee of the party is there with their national chairman. What the Inspector General of Police and other security heads are doing by harassing Wike and other key opposition leaders tonight in Benin is election interference.
“The international community should take note. Governor Wike has every reason to be in Edo state for the election because he is the DG of the PDP campaign. He may even serve as a Polling Unit, Ward, LGA or State agent for his party tomorrow (Saturday),” the group noted in a statement by its convener, Comrade Deji Adeyanju.
He urged the security agencies to be neutral to ensure free, fair and credible polls, stressing that ‘to give undue advantage to the APC and begin clampdown on the PDP is rigging and stands condemned’.
Meanwhile Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Pastor Poulinous Nsirm, maintained that Wike as the PDP National Campaign Council chairman for Edo governorship election, has legitimate, constitutionally recognized appointment in electoral rules, guidelines and processes in the country.
“It confers on him, the democratic authority to be in Edo State to spearhead the campaign and lend support to the governorship candidate of his political party.
“Governor Wike has not committed any crime to warrant this intimidation and we want to state categorically that the siege on his hotel is totally unlawful, illegitimate and provocative.
“This is even more so when placed against the backdrop of the fact that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, who equally occupies this same position in the APC and indeed his counterpart, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, are all in Benin carrying out the same assignment for the APC.
“They are moving about freely, without any siege on their locations or molestation, threats, harassments and intimidation.
“We hereby put the Nigerian government and international community on notice that the life of Governor Wike is in danger and under serious threat,” Nsirim said.
He said that Rivers people would hold IGP Mohammed Adamu personally responsible if anything happens to Wike.
Efforts to speak with the Edo State Commissioner of Police on the matter proved abortive before press time as calls and text messages sent to him and the police spokesman were answered.
Over 1.7 million voters will today (Saturday 19, 2020) cast votes to elect the governor of Edo State for the next four years.
Incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 12 other candidates are participating in the election.
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