#Edo2016: PDP Sends petition to Foreign Embassies, European Union and NBA, Over Oshiomole's Abuse of Power

 

Read petition below

The President,
Nigerian Bar Association,
Abuja

Dear Sir,

LETTER TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OVER GOVERNOR ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE AND APC'S USE OF STATE POWERS AND VIOLENT MEANS AGAINST THE OPPOSITION PDP, WITH THE INTENTION OF MANIPULATING AND RIGGING THE SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN EDO STATE.



It has become expedient once again for the Edo State PDP to draw the attention of the international community to the unfair deployment of the agencies of state, particularly the police, the Attorney-General's Office, and the State Revenue Service in the harassment, molestation, intimidation, arrest and persecution of leaders and members of the PDP in the desperate attempt to rig the September 28 Edo State governorship election which the ruling APC had shifted from September 10, apparently having realized that it had not perfected its plan to rig against an overwhelmingly popular PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

We wish to state that our recourse to seeking international attention and intervention is predicated on the fact that the Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole has boasted that APC controlled federal government is evidently supportive of the actions of the state government in furtherance of the grand design to undermine the process of a free and fair electoral contest as expected in a civilized democracy.

The Edo State government, has in obvious abuse of its powers brought the Edo State Revenue Service into the fray of coercion of Edo State PDP. The Board of Internal Revenue has in an unprecedented move taken the State PDP to court on the allegation of non payment of tax by staff of the PDP Secretariat. The State Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, who apparently is the prime target of the litigation is mentioned as the defendant. Information available to us is that the APC led government wants Chief Orbih remanded in prison custody during the remaining period of the campaign and on Election Day as the courts have been briefed that whenever he appears his bail condition will be such that he cannot meet it, even as the allegation is trumped up. It is instructive to note that Chief Dan Orbih has been relentlessly critical of the APC and its gubernatorial candidate Mr. Godwin Obaseki. In fact the PDP has dragged Obaseki to court to make him validate series of allegations that have to do with perjury and misrepresentation of facts about his educational qualification and background.

We see the disingenuous attack on Chief Orbih as a calculated attempt to throw the PDP in disarray and to manipulate the minds of our teeming supporters who are in the majority among the Edo electorate. We know that this resort is an exercise in futility. However, the desperation of the APC puts us in dread of their capacity and inclination to suffer the worst in the next few days before the rescheduled election and on the day of the election.

As feared, the postponement has afforded the APC the opportunity to step up the plot to compromise the electoral process. Notably, the harassment, arrest and brutalization of influential and uncompromising members of the party across the state by policemen acting on the directive of the chief security officer of Edo State, the governor, has escalated. On a daily basis, PDP members are being summoned to appear at various police stations on phantom charges. They are detained in most instances. Some of our members have been victims of serious violent attacks from agents of the APC suffering bodily harm and loss of valuable property in the process.

While the episode of the Ovia 13, whereby thirteen young PDP members were wrongly arrested for demonstrating peacefully but had their charge changed to murder is still fresh in the minds of Edo people, the state government instigated police has continued to arrest PDP members on trumped up charges. The most recent is that of Mr. Pere Ejune who, for decamping to the PDP was arrested in a matter of hours and charged with gun running. Mr. Pere Ejune for the records was not seen with a gun. He was arrested in his hotel room at 2am, the day he decamped from APC to PDP. He has since been charged to court and case adjourned to October 12, 2016. He has systemically been removed from the scene. Meanwhile, the attention of the Edo State PDP has been drawn to the development whereby five thugs namely, Charles Nehizena, aka Briganty, Osagie Obowaretin aka Boss and three others, known to be regular escorts and personal driver of the member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency, Hon. Patrick Aisowieren who were arrested by the police for being in possession of AK47 automatic assault rifles, ostensibly for wreaking havoc in the rescheduled Edo State Governorship Election, have been charged to a magistrate's court for a lesser offense and have been granted bail without mention of the illegal possession of firearms.

On Monday, 19th of September, members of our social media sub- committee on Publicity, Mr. Paul Okpere and his brother Pullen Okpere were viciously attacked by up to 20 members of APC led by one Mr Bright Kokoma a known APC enforcer in Ikpoba-Okha local government area . Their offence is posting on facebook pictures of shops damaged and destroyed by Mr Bright Kokoma because the store owners refused to pay N12000.00 each as levy. It is believed that the local APC was trying to raise funds forcefully for the rescheduled elections. Pictures attached. Visit Edo Political Forum on facebook to get perspective on this vicious and condemnable attack. Mr Bright Kokoma is still parading the streets and boasting of his government cover and backing!

In Estako West local government area, where the governor Adams Oshiomhole and the APC deputy governorship candidate hail from, our supporters have been going through hell as refusal to decamp or show support to APC have even led to their homes and property attacked and destroyed even by arson. The home of one of our party members, a unit coordinator in Jattu Uzariue, in Estako West Local government, Mr. Emma Musa was in the early hours of Thursday 25th August 2016 set ablaze and he and his brother escaped death by whiskers. As we speak, no arrest has been made. Mr Emma Musa's house is less than 30 meters from the divisional police station. (Photos Attached)

In Estako East Local government area, we have had members shot at, homes shot at and vehicles destroyed. Abu Abdulwahab was shot at and severely injured( pictures attached) and Hon.‎ Godwin Eshieshi's home shot at (picture attached) while Abu Abdul Ganiyu, our party Chairman was mercilessly beaten up by APC members under the watch of policemen at the police station.

In Estako Central local government area, our vibrant youth mobiliser Mr. Ruben Abuda was murdered by members of APC led by Emmanuel Aigboastua. The case was reported at the Divisional Police Station, Fugar. All those connected with the unfortunate cold blooded murder were arrested by the police command but a day after the arrest, the APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Hon. Philip Shaibu went to the station to forcefully effect their release. Those released by Hon Shaibu were, 1. Busali Desimhi and 2. Oshiole Anthony Bacon. The victim was murdered on 6th September 2016 because he refused all entreaties to join APC.
Still in Fugar, a branded APC van deliberately ran into a meeting of PDP supporters injuring many. The driver sped off and went to hide the vehicle in the home of an APC leader who doubles as the chief protocol officer to the governor, Hon John Akpogun. When our members went to report the matter to the police, they were arrested and detained.

It is not a secret that the leaders of the ruling APC which have lost the goodwill of Edo people, have sworn that they cannot afford to lose the election in Edo State. The leader of the APC in the State and Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has boasted that it is over his dead body that PDP would win the governorship election. Under the circumstances it is already clear that the Government whose responsibility is to provide an environment for a free and fair election is ready to indulge in unwholesome practices, some of which have been activated and shown above.

The grand design of the APC is to subvert the will of the people and if this is not checked it may spell grave consequences for the state.

We therefore, call on the members of the international community and all promoters of democracy to impress it on the federal government which is in control of all the organs responsible for the conduct of Edo 2016 governorship election to direct and ensure that the election is not compromised directly or indirectly, before, during and after. It should demonstrate good sportsmanship, having recently been a beneficiary of an election conducted by an incumbent.

In the meantime, the rampaging governor of Edo State should be called to order; the will of Edo people should be allowed to be freely expressed and the outcome accepted by all.


Chris Osa Nehikhare
Publicity Secretary
PDP Edo State


CC: United Nations, African Union, European Union, American Government, British Government, Ecowas