Asue Ighodalo, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Edo state elections has given his word that his party will sign the peace accord with other political parties once the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police Force meet all their conditions.
Asue Ighodalo made this promise in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, complaining that some PDP members have been arrested and detained without being charged to court.
He said in the interview that his camp will not hesitate to sign the peace accord already signed by the other parties involved in the election once his supporters were released.
Asue Ighodalo also said that the major reason for their refusal to sign the peace accord was because of the harassment and intimidation of his party’s supporters.
However, he noted that Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has now given assurances of neutrality, improving the situation for the PDP.
“We had a number of conditions, most of which have now been met, except one. Many of our guys have been held unjustly. We think if you hold guys, you either charge them or you let them go on bail. Once that is achieved, we will sign the peace accord,” Ighodalo said.
“We saw thugs from the other party on TV with weapons, none of those guys were arrested. Of course, we had reasons to feel strongly harassed and intimidated. But today, we feel a bit better. The Inspector General has assured us of a level playing field,” he added.
The peace accord, a pre-election agreement in Nigeria to promote nonviolence, was signed by all other parties contesting in the Edo governorship election.
However, the PDP declined to participate, with Tony Aziegbemi, PDP chairman in Edo, leaving the venue in protest over the arrest of a party member, Collins Aigbogu, the chairman of Esan West Local Government Area. He had been detained without being released, prompting the PDP to delay signing the peace pact.
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