Ill-wind is blowing in Edo – PDP

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that “the wind currently blowing in Edo State is an ill-wind, which will blow no one no good.”

This came from Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party in the state while reacting to the ‘takeover’ of the party’s Secretariat by the All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs led by its Chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe on Thursday afternoon.

According to Aziegbemi, “the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has continued its brigandage, illegality, and violent assault on democracy, and we are deeply worried that if unabated, may snowball into a breakdown of law and order, leading to anarchy and chaos in the State.

“At 13.31pm yesterday, January 16, 2025, the APC, using several Hilux vans and other vehicles,led by Jarret Tenebe deployed their thugs, backed by police officers from the Government House, to sack the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from its Secretariat on Airport Road, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

“The entire operation was violent and brutal as has never been heard of or seen before and sadly it lasted for more than an hour. The Secretariat was vandalized, and there was wreckage and destruction everywhere. Banners and other materials were taken off and destroyed. 

“Lives were put in danger, including mine as the Chairman of the PDP in Edo State. I was forcefully bundled out of my office with the help of Mr. Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, amidst brutal assault and violence against my person.”

Aziegbemi submitted that the “violent  takeover of the PDP Secretariat by Okpebholo and the APC  is a clear reflection of the reign of terror that the people of Edo State have witnessed over the past two months. We State unequivocally that we are the legitimate tenants of the said property. 

“It is the same devious tactics deployed to sack and intimidate duly elected council chairmen and the vice chairmen out of office, using horse whips and other dangerous weapons. It is the same pattern that is deployed in motor parks and markets, where thugs operating under the protection of the state government harass, intimidate, and extort transporters and traders daily without restraint.” 

Aziegbemi called on the Federal Government, international agencies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to rein in Governor Okpebholo, whom he averred “has become an unleashed force of lawlessness.”