About two days before the governorship election in Edo State, concerns have been raised over the continued arrest of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members by the Police.
The Edo Collectives, a socio-political group, in a statement on Thursday, raised the alarm over the arrest of some PDP members.
The statement signed by Ese Ipboba, spokesman of Edo Collectives, identified the arrested PDP chieftains as Chief Ehikioha Clifford, Friday Adams, and Obehi Stanley.
They were reportedly arrested by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on Thursday.
The group claimed that the reason for the arrests was not disclosed, adding that there are reports that women leaders in Etsako, who support the PDP, were being threatened with abduction.
“Despite the assurance that there will be no arrest of politicians on or before the election on Saturday, another set of PDP members have been arrested.
“It will be recalled that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has been accused of using federal might to harass and intimidate the opposition in the state.
“The position of PDP not to sign the peace accord is being manifested by the unnecessary and unwarranted indiscriminate arrest of its chieftains,” the statement said.
The group appealed to the IGP “to halt the provoking arrests a few hours before the election”.
According to report the PDP-led Edo State government had accused the Police of arresting members of the party and detaining them in Abuja.
The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare said the arrested PDP members include a local government chairman and operatives of the Edo State Security Network.
Guber Poll: 10 PDP leaders arrested by Police, detained in Abuja – Edo Govt alleges
The development is the reason given by the PDP for refusing to sign the Peace Accord.
