Edo 2020: Apprehension in Okpella as Police besiege town on the orders of Godwin Obaseki

● Over 50 policemen occupying residence of Obaseki's aide

● Terrorize residents at night

● APC petitions CP over mission of officers


The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over a strange dispatch of a team of Police officers, numbering over 50, to Okpella community where they are occupying the private residence of a political appointee of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

A statement by the Chairman of the Media Campaign Council, Mr. John Mayaki said this strange development has caused apprehension in the town as residents express worry over planned violent intimidation ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.

According to Mayaki, "The Police officers were reportedly deployed on the orders of the Governor Godwin Obaseki and have set camp in the building of one Lukman Akemokue, a political aide and ally of the Deputy Governor, who relocated his mother from the building to make room for the officers.

"Residents of numerous surrounding communities in the area have lamented the Police officers' night movements characterized by indiscriminate shootings, shouts of obscenities, and other bizarre acts of intimidation which they claim were aimed at inducing fear ahead of the polls.

"It is important to note that Okpella has recorded large numbers of movements from the PDP to the APC in the past few weeks, as residents declare their intention to back the bid of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu over failure by the Obaseki-led administration to keep his promises to them after four years.

"Prominent amongst former members of the PDP who have openly declared support for the APC and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is Prince Kassim Afegbua, a chieftain of the PDP and popular political figure in Okpella, who rejected Governor Godwin Obaseki for drawing revenue from Okpella through its abundant resources but refusing to re-invest in the area to ensure infrastructure development and good standard of living.

"The deployment of the Police officers has been interpreted as a desperate tactic by the Governor and his allies to scare away voters to prevent the anticipated embarrassing defeat expected on the 19th of September", Mayaki said.

Meanwhile, Mayaki said the APC will do a formal petition to the State Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Kokumo, and the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Muhammed, to probe the dispatch of the officers to Okpella and why they are occupying the private residence of the governor's aide.

Mayaki said it amounts to a violation of the objective stance expected of security agencies, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force, to embark on a secret mission to an area where the incumbent is not popular and be housed in a private residence of a political appointee to terrorize communities.

While expressing doubt that the State Commissioner of Police approved the disturbing operation which bodes ill for the peaceful conduct of the election in Okpella, Mayaki nonetheless vowed to uncover the truth with a petition demanding a full explanation and the immediate evacuation of the officers from Lukman Akemokue's residence.

Edo politicians needs to be more mature in subsequent election...out of 36 states Edo and Rivers election is the worst

Onijagidijagan:
Edo politicians needs to be more mature in subsequent election...out of 36 states Edo and Rivers election is the worst

you can say it again

It's this kind of desperation that put Nigeria where it's today as a nation.

Time to condemn this rubbish is now!

Election is not war. The police commissioner seems not to have a good grip of the security situation in the state. Some days ago an ACP and Area commander was assaulted for recording thugs on the governor's campaign train who were fermenting trouble. Examples need to be made of people to show that violence and intimidation will not be accepted across party lines.

this is election not war. Edo must get it right

slivertongue:
this is election not war. Edo must get it right

yes, you're right, we must get it right by sending thief obaseki packing.

Igbos will avoid the thread

Oshiomhole should stop this useless propaganda, and go and tell Edo people why they should support godfatherism.



Nobody is buying his rubbish anymore.

This is y I don't care, but mk my on mola y at my comfort

Election is close, if APC isn't planning evil, why are they afraid of policemen?

The innocent has nothing to fear when you see policemen who haven't even spoken to you or stopped you.

It is obvious their sinister moves have been checkmated so they have decided to cry wolf.