The signing of the peace accord organised by the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee for the 18 political parties and their governorship candidates in the September 21 Edo State election was boycotted this morning by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the chairman of the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, and the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
Despite being present throughout the event at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin, Aziegbemi and Ighodalo chose not to sign the accord.
The ceremony, attended by prominent figures including former Head of State Gen. Abubakar, Inspector-General of Police Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and Bishop Matthew Kukah, saw the PDP leaders initially approach the podium at 12:25 p.m. to sign.
However, they protested to Bishop Kukah, who was overseeing the signing, and then repeated their protest to Gen. Abubakar, ultimately deciding not to participate.
Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who is the leader of the PDP in Edo, on Wednesday, indicated that the PDP might not sign the peace accord today on Thursday, September 12, because the agency, the police, responsible for enforcing the accord had, through their actions, shown that they were acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP.
Obaseki spoke when he received Gen. Abubakar, who was on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Benin.
Aziegbemi earlier raised the alarm over the deployment of associates of an ex-Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike,
now the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to act as INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, and the state’s Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, in the lead up to the September 21 governorship election in Edo.
(The Nation)
