The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday criticised the All Progressives Congress for claiming it had reclaimed its party secretariat from the PDP, asserting that it remains the legitimate tenant of the building.
The PDP described the move as an invasion, warning that the manner in which the APC, led by its state chairman, Jaret Tenebe, occupied the building is a dangerous invitation to anarchy. The party called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and urge Governor Monday Okpebholo and the APC to exercise restraint before the situation escalates.
Addressing a press conference in Benin on Friday, the Edo State PDP Chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, accompanied by the party’s Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, and the Director-General of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council for the 21 September 2024 election, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, decried the increasing climate of terror in the state.
Aziegbemi, who stated that he was present at the secretariat when the APC invaded at about 1:31 p.m. on Thursday, said he immediately contacted the Divisional Police Officer at Aideyan Police Station.
However, the DPO arrived at 2:42 pm, despite the station being less than five minutes away.
The PDP chairman emphasised that the building housing the secretariat belongs to a private individual and questioned why the APC chairman failed to contact the landlord if it indeed held a valid tenancy agreement for the property.
Describing the incident as “executive recklessness and a precursor to anarchy,” Aziegbemi accused the APC in Edo State of perpetuating “brigandage, illegality, and violent assaults on democracy.” He warned that if these actions continue unchecked, they could lead to widespread chaos in the state.
“At 1:31 pm on Thursday, 16 January 2025, the APC, using several Hilux vans and other vehicles led by Jaret Tenebe, deployed thugs supported by police officers from the Government House to forcibly remove the PDP from its secretariat on Airport Road, Benin City, the Edo State capital,” Aziegbemi said.
“The entire operation was violent and brutal, lasting more than an hour. The secretariat was vandalised, banners and materials destroyed, and lives endangered, including mine. I was forcibly removed from my office with the assistance of the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Blessing Agbebaku, amidst violence and assault.”
He continued, “This is arguably the worst attack on democracy in Nigeria since 1999. Even military regimes were not as brutal against dissenting voices as Governor Okpebholo’s administration has been since taking office on 12 November 2024.
“Today’s violent takeover of the PDP secretariat is part of a broader pattern of harassment, intimidation, and extortion by thugs operating under the protection of the state government. The same tactics have been used to oust elected council chairmen and vice-chairmen, as well as to terrorise traders and transporters in markets and motor parks.”
The PDP called on the Federal Government, international agencies, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to intervene and curb the “lawlessness” of the Edo State governor.
Aziegbemi warned, “Edo is at the precipice. Democracy in Edo State is on fire. The current wind blowing in the state is an ill wind that will benefit no one.”
In response, the Edo APC State Chairman, Jaret Tenebe, claimed that the property had been rented as the APC secretariat under a seven-year tenancy agreement before the immediate past governor, Godwin Obaseki, converted it into the PDP secretariat after defecting to the PDP in 2020.