By Paul Oke, Abuja.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the main opposition party in Nigeria, has charged the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, to immediately stop the invasion and attempt to forcefully takeover the Edo state House of Assembly by security operatives illegally deployed from Abuja by the All Progressives Congress, APC-adminitration.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan said that the invasion and illegal occupation of the state legislature by security agents allegedly deployed by sacked national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, was a direct coup against the democratic order of Edo state and a recipe for anarchy, chaos and bloodletting.
“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, said the PDP.
Mr Ologbondiyan said the PDP condemned this notorious resort to self help by the APC and their agents to forcefully takeover power in Edo state through the back door.
He said the PDP has been informed that the plot was 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.
“Our party therefore charges the IG to wade in and immediately withdraw the illegally deployed security officers and protect democracy and peace in Edo state” Mr Ologbondiyan stated.
The PDP said Nigeria could not afford to have a breakdown of law and order in Edo state at this critical time as such was capable of having a spiral effect on other states in the Niger Delta region, which would further result in dire consequences to the nation.
He restated its call to President Muhammadu Buhari to caution Adams Oshiomhole before he triggers a serious crisis in this country.
