
All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party
The Edo State PDP Chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi recently had his say while speaking to the press, and Nigerians have been reacting.
According to him, the manner in which the APC, led by its state chairman, Jaret Tenebe, occupied the building is a dangerous invitation to anarchy, and APC remains the legitimate tenant of the secretariat.
He then called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and urge Governor Monday Okpebholo and the APC to exercise restraint before the situation escalates.
His words, “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.
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.
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.
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.”
WOW.