The APC withdraws from the Edo election peace accord.

 The APC withdraws from the Edo election peace accord.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to withdraw from signing the peace accord for the Edo State governorship election, citing concerns over unresolved security issues, particularly the killing of a police officer assigned to their candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. This decision comes less than 12 hours after Governor Godwin Obaseki, while meeting with the Chairman of the Presidential Peace Committee, former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, indicated that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), might not sign the peace accord. He explained that the PDP has lost confidence in both the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

During a press conference at the party secretariat, Emperor Jarret Tenebe explained that their decision not to sign was influenced by several factors. He highlighted that, despite a police inspector, Onuh Akor, being shot and killed over two months ago along Airport Road while serving as the orderly to the party's candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, no arrests or prosecutions have occurred. This is despite former Commissioner of Police Funsho's claims that the command had identified the suspects involved in Inspector Akor’s murder at the Benin airport.

Tenebe alleged that instead of arresting the suspects, Governor Godwin Obaseki is reportedly harboring them in the government house. He asserted that this police failure has emboldened both Governor Obaseki and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, to repeatedly attack members of their political party at rallies and business locations.

He criticized the governor for making inflammatory remarks that undermine his role as the Chief Security Officer of the State. Tenebe detailed various attacks on the APC campaign team in communities like Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, and Esan West while they were mobilizing supporters for the election. 

In response to these attacks, Tenebe noted that Governor Obaseki had remained silent and failed to condemn the violence. Instead, he pointed out that Odion Olaye, Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress in Edo State, had threatened that “Nigeria will burn” if INEC did not declare the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, as the winner of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election.

Tenebe also mentioned that several PDP leaders have publicly boasted about their ability to act with impunity, and criticized the police for not addressing the party’s petition, which included names of suspects involved in these incidents.

He stated, “In summary, these incidents highlight Governor Obaseki’s reluctance to promote peace and the security agencies’ failure to ensure a peaceful environment for the upcoming September 21, 2024 election.”