By DADA AYOKHAI
With two days to the house of Assembly election in Edo state, the state government and the main opposition party in the state All Progressives Congress (APC), are trading blame over the arrest of the state deputy chairman of the party, Mr Jarret Tenebe.
The APC in a statement by the state chairman of the party titled “APC condemn arrest and detention of State Vice-chairman, Tenebe by deputy governor ” accused the state deputy governor, Philip shaibu of masterminding the arrest of Mr Tenebe.
The State Chairman of the APC, Col David Imuse rtd has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of State Vice-chairman of the party, Mr Jarrett Tenebe, allegedly arrested by the Police on the orders of the deputy governor, Mr Philip Shaibu.
The APC statement signed by the party Assistant state publicity secretary, Mr Victor ofure osehobo said the arrest is in violation of his fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the 1999 constitution (as amended).
The statement further said
“In demanding his release, our party is deeply worried by reports that our State Vice-Chairman,.Mr Jarrett Tenebe, was arrested on his way home after attending a party meeting in Benin City and is being brought to the state capital, instead of the Area Command in Edo North.
“We insist that, resorting to using the police to arrest and detain the State Vice-chairman of the APC, Mr Jarrett Tenebe is completely unacceptable, unlawful and cannot be justified under any guise whatsoever.
“Our party charges the Edo state deputy governor to note that Edo State is a part of the Nigerian nation which is a democracy, governed by law which creates no space for the whims and caprices of dictatorial, oppressive and vindictive individuals, who has no regard for rules.
“Mr Shaibu should therefore respect the provisions of the law by following due process in dealing with issues, particularly those guaranteed by the constitution. He has no right whatsoever to order the arrest and illegal detention at an unknown location of the State Vice-chairman of the APC or any citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for that matter.
“We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police to wade into the matter, insulate the police from the political manipulation of the frustrated PDP government in Edo state, by immediately ordering the release of the Mr Tenebe, in keeping with the demands of the tenets of democracy, rule of law and provision of 1999 constitution.”
APC chieftain, Jaret Tenebe arrested over illegal possession of arms, invasion of INEC office in Edo.
In a counter accusation, the Edo state government through their social media team posted that the
“The Edo State Police Command has arrested a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jaret Tenebe, and one Akeem Zibiri, a retired officer of the NDLEA over illegal possession of arms and invasion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
“Tenebe, alongside the NDLEA officer, in the early hours of Thursday, led some thugs to the INEC office in Etsako West where they were apprehended by the Police.
“The culprits were said to be on a mission to loot and tamper with sensitive materials ahead of Saturday’s House of Assembly elections in Edo State.
They were arrested following an intelligence report and have been taken to State CID for detention and further prosecution.”
