By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – THE Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has carpeted the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) allegation of selective arrest and intimidation of its members by the police which it alleged that the APC had compromised with the APC claiming that the arrest of some persons linked to violence ahead of the September 21st election has brought peace to the state.

It would be recalled that the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council last Sunday listed some of its members that have been arrested and others allegedly on the list of others to be picked and detained on false charges.

But a statement yesterday by the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Prince Uadiae Igbinigie said the allegations by the PDP were baseless and unsubstantiated.

He said “It must be stated emphatically that some weeks ago, a young man who was wickedly armed with a gun was arrested in Uromi, in Esan North Local Government Area of the State.

News had it that the said boy made a starkly confessional statement that the gun was procured for him and his cohorts by the Chairman of Esan North Local Government Area, to be used to fight their perceived political enemies particularly members of the APC.

“It is also in the public space that during interrogation of the said boy by the police, he gave names of his co-travellers who were on the run, some now been arrested by the police in their diligent pursuit of these alleged criminals, others still at large.

“The police who ordinarily should be commended by the PDP, the party in authority in the state, is now been castigated for carrying out their civic responsibility i.e. security of lives and property within the State.

“It is disturbing that the Governor of the State has been making inciting statements that bothers on treasonable felony when it was obvious from available evidence that members of his party allegedly shot and killed a serving police officer Inspector Akor in their desperate attempt to assassinate the Governorship Candidate of our party, Distinguished Sen. Monday Okpebholo.

“Those named in our petition to the Inspect General of Police are said to be having safe haven in Government House under the brazen watch of the Governor.

“We therefore use this medium to salute the police for the unwavering courage and profound determination to fish out those who are involved in this unholy crime so as to make the State safe for a free and fair election, come 21st of September,2024.”