..Lists conditions for participation in signing of peace pact

The Edo State’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declined the signing of the Peace Accord organized by National Peace Committee (NPC) to ensure peaceful elections, accusing the police who are the agency responsible for enforcing the accord of partiality.

The party, through its chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, said it would result to mere jamboree entering a peace accord with an umpire who, from the onset, has shown bias, acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP.

The PDP decried that since the commencement of the electioneering process in the State, the steps taken by the Police has shown that they are one-sided, adding that “In the course of preparations for this election however, strange and disturbing new elements have been introduced in particular by a Party that has apparently reached the conclusion that it cannot prevail in a free, fair and peaceful election.”

The PDP therefore listed the conditions for signing of the peace accord to include, “The immediate and unconditional release/production of all persons currently in unlawful custody or all these persons if alleged to have committed any crime should be immediately brought before a court of competent jurisdiction in compliance with all civilized constitutional processes.

“The immediate redeployment of the current Edo State Commissioner of Police and the current Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and their replacement with persons who can exhibit fairness and balance in the performance of their functions and who do not have any links to the contending parties or vested interests in the process.

“The immediate recall of any external Police Team/Squad from Abuja or any other location in Nigeria currently marauding in Edo State, illegally arresting perceived political opponents and creating undue tension in the State.

“An undertaking and commitment by the Nigeria Police and INEC to operate a level playing field without allowing themselves to become a private army at the behest of one of the contending parties.”