By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, yesterday, commended the police in the state for averting what could have resulted into a bloody clash, when some members of the party attempted to inaugurate a parallel secretariat of the party in Benin City, weekend.

The party in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Okharedia Ihimikpen, also warned against the use of the name of a two-time Governor of the old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, to cause crisis in the party, recalling that Dr Ogbemudia had earlier embraced peace in the party as a national leader and had appealed to members to be united because of the task ahead of the party.

It will be recalled that a faction of the party led by Elder Sunny Uyigue, had weekend, attempted to inaugurate a factional secretariat of the party along Siluko Road but met stiff resistance from policemen, who stopped the members from inaugurating the secretariat.

According to the statement, “we want to state that while we commend the police for their prompt action, we also appeal to other law enforcement agents to cooperate with the police to curtail the activities of these political jobbers in order to ensure peace and stability in the state, especially now that we are entering election year.

“ We express satisfaction with the peace that has returned to our party in the state and  progress the party is making towards wresting power from the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, led government come 2012.

The party  appeal to all members, supporters of the party and Edo people to remain calm as the law enforcement agencies are equal to the task of handling the nefarious activities of these people,” it said.

He warned that “henceforth, we will not tolerate any act of deceit capable of undermining the peace and stability of the party and the state as being perpetrated and sponsored by the ACN-led government in the state.”