The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has strongly condemned the forceful takeover of its secretariat on Airport Road, Benin City, describing the incident as an act of “criminal trespass, breaking, stealing, and malicious damage.”
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Dr Tony Azeigbemi, reaffirmed that the secretariat remains the official office of the PDP. He also challenged the All Progressives Congress to provide evidence supporting their claim that they had paid for the property for seven years.
Dr Azeigbemi expressed frustration at what he described as the slow response of security agencies to the situation, stating that it took the police over an hour to arrive at the scene after he raised the alarm. He noted that such a delay should not have occurred, as the distance to the secretariat would typically take about 15 minutes to cover.
According to Azeigbemi, the invasion was “violent and brutal” and lasted for more than an hour.
“The secretariat was vandalized, and there was wreckage and destruction everywhere,” he said. “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.”
Dr Azeigbemi further decried the actions as a severe attack on democracy, describing it as unprecedented since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999.
“No doubt, this is arguably the worst attack on democracy in any part of Nigeria since the nation’s return to democracy in 1999. Even military regimes before 1999 were not as violent or brutal against dissenting voices as the Okpebholo-led government since they took over office on November 12, 2024,” Azeigbemi remarked.
As of the time of this report, the All Progressives Congress is yet to respond to the allegations or provide evidence to substantiate their claims regarding the ownership of the secretariat.
The incident has sparked concerns over political tensions in Edo State, raising questions about the security of democratic institutions and processes in the region.