Illegal police takeover of Edo assembly a coup — PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the “invasion and forcefully” taking over of the Edo state House of Assembly by security operatives is a coup and recipe for anarchy.

The PDP asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Adamu Mohammed, to wade in by immediately withdrawing the “illegally” deployed security officers and protect democracy and peace in Edo state.

• Police take over Edo state House of Assembly complex
• Edo gov’ship: 48hrs after endorsing Ize-Iyamu, deputy speaker impeached

Security operatives on Thursday morning reportedly took over the Edo state assembly complex with patrol vehicles stationed around the area.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said the nation cannot afford to have a breakdown of law and order in Edo state at this critical time as such is capable of having a spiral effect on other states in the Niger Delta region, which will further result in dire consequences to the nation.

“We urge the Inspector General to act with dispatch to curb this nefarious situation, which has heightened tension in the state, and if not halted, may results in a bloody clash as the citizens are already charged to defend their symbol of democracy from a forceful takeover.

“The Police hierarchy is urged to note that this provocative and lawless act by the APC is part of its plans to overheat the polity and create a security situation with the view to unleash violence on the people, derail the democratic order in the state and blame it on security agencies.

“We condemn this notorious resort to self help by the APC and their agents to forcefully takeover power in Edo state through the back door.

“Our party has been informed that the plot is to use the illegal security operation to seize the processes of the House of Assembly and illegally inaugurate certain individuals whose seats have been lawfully declared vacant with plans to use them to pull down democratic structure in the state.

“The PDP has also been made aware of grand plots by Oshiomhole, working in alliance with the impeached Deputy Speaker of the Edo state House of Assembly, to import a fake mace, cause anarchy and then push for the imposition of a state of emergency in the state, seeing that they cannot win the forthcoming governorship election,” the PDP said.