The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are locked in a bitter dispute following allegations of vandalism at the PDP party secretariat.
Chris Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, accused APC-affiliated thugs of storming the party’s secretariat, wreaking havoc, and making off with valuables worth millions of naira.
Nehikhare claimed that doors, windows, office equipment, and electronics, including computers, were destroyed or stolen by the assailants, who reportedly ransacked the building with the intention of attacking anyone inside.
He condemned the attack, calling it a desperate and reckless act by the APC to undermine the PDP’s efforts to reclaim the mandate allegedly stolen during the September 21 governorship election.
Nehikhare said, “It is quite disappointing and unfortunate that the APC, on Thursday, mobilised thugs to attack our party secretariat in their desperation to frustrate and halt efforts by our great party to reclaim the mandate duly given to it by the Edo people at the September 21 governorship election.”
“If the APC is confident that it won the election fairly and has nothing to hide, why are they resorting to violence and mobilizing thugs to attack the PDP secretariat?” he added. “This is barbaric and totally condemnable. We urge relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate the attack and ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to justice.”
Despite the setback, Nehikhare emphasized that the PDP remained steadfast in its pursuit of justice, urging party members and supporters to remain calm and resolute as the party sought to reclaim its mandate through legal means.
In response, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, the Publicity Secretary of the APC, dismissed the allegations as unfounded and urged the PDP to address its internal issues. Uwadiae-Igbinigie criticized the PDP for attributing the attack to APC thugs without evidence, questioning whether the alleged attackers were even identifiable as APC members.
He remarked, “How can the PDP say that the thugs that attacked its party secretariat are APC members? Did they wear APC uniforms or have any APC paraphernalia? The allegation is baseless, and there is no proof.”
Uwadiae-Igbinigie further criticized the PDP for its failure to implement key projects during its tenure, highlighting that the APC-led government in Edo State was already making progress on initiatives that the PDP had neglected. He said, “The APC government in the state is already embarking on projects that the PDP failed to do. These are projects that will better the lives of the people.”
As the war of words continues, the security agencies are being urged to investigate the attack and bring clarity to the situation, while both parties appear intent on defending their positions.
