APC Urges Immediate Arrest of Edo Speaker for Alleged Political Violence

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo ecurity agencies to arrest and prosecute the Speaker of the Edo State

House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, accusing him of orchestrating violent attacks against its members in Owan West Local Government Area.

The APC’s acting chairman in the state, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, made this demand through a statement issued to journalists in Benin City, detailing a series of alleged violent incidents involving the Speaker and his associates.

Tenebe specifically accused Agbebaku of being the mastermind behind an attack on Chief Ohimai, a prominent figure within the community.

He further claimed that thugs allegedly working for the Speaker committed an array of violent acts, including a particularly shocking assault where a seven-month-old baby belonging to David Iruedo, the APC Ward 2 Organising Secretary, was reportedly smashed against a wall. During the same incident, the mother of the child was allegedly stripped naked, and her bar was vandalised.

The APC chairman also alleged that Mrs. Collins Amoni, the wife of the party’s chairman in Ward 2, was attacked during the spree of violence. He claimed that the assailants burnt her headgear and stole her mobile phone. According to Tenebe, these incidents occurred between August 20, 2024, and August 31, 2024, and involved individuals identified as Lucky Omon, Kelvin Ojo Omon, Lucy Unuigbe, Tunde Akele, Kelvin Omon Odion, and several others.

The statement, titled “Again, the All Progressives Congress Demands Arrest and Prosecution of Blessing Agbebaku For Electoral Violence in Edo State,” alleges that the attackers were transported to the scenes of violence in Sienna buses, which were escorted by Agbebaku’s official white Hilux truck. Tenebe expressed dismay at what he described as a lack of action from the security agencies, despite multiple reports of violence and intimidation lodged against Agbebaku.

“About a week ago, exactly on August 20, 2024, our party raised an alarm on some heinous plans to disrupt the September 21 Governorship Election in the state by Blessing Agbebaku, a member and Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly,” Tenebe stated. He criticised the security agencies for their perceived inaction and urged them to take immediate steps to curb Agbebaku’s alleged violent actions against APC members and supporters.

Tenebe highlighted Agbebaku’s history of violence and thuggery, arguing that the Speaker’s actions were aimed at disrupting the political process in Owan West and undermining the philanthropic efforts of Chief Ohimai, which are designed to benefit the local community. According to the APC chairman, the Speaker’s alleged actions reflect a broader strategy to suppress the opposition and maintain political control through intimidation and violence.

On the specific incident of August 31, 2024, Tenebe detailed how Kelvin Omon Odion, allegedly acting under Agbebaku’s directives, led a group of thugs to attack Mrs. Collins Amoni, the wife of the APC Ward 2 chairman. During this attack, the assailants reportedly assaulted her, burned her headgear, and stole her mobile phone. The violence escalated further when the group, including individuals identified as Lucky Omon, Kelvin Ojo Omon, Lucy Unuigbe, and Tunde Akele, reportedly stormed the drinking bar owned by David Iruedo, resulting in the brutal assault of Iruedo’s family, including the assault on the seven-month-old child and the vandalisation of the property.

Tenebe called for the immediate arrest of Speaker Agbebaku and all those implicated in these violent acts, stressing that the APC would not tolerate such attacks on its members.

He urged security agencies to act swiftly to restore order and prevent further violence, as well as to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

In response to these allegations, the media aide to Speaker Agbebaku, Mrs Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, stated that the Speaker would not be commenting on the allegations raised by the APC. “The Speaker said he will not comment on the allegations raised by the Edo APC chairman,” she briefly remarked.

The APC’s call for action underscores the heightened tensions and volatility surrounding the upcoming elections in Edo State. As the political landscape heats up, the party has made it clear that it expects the security agencies to act decisively to prevent any further escalation of violence.

The party’s demands for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible highlight the urgent need for impartial and effective law enforcement in the state’s ongoing political disputes.

The situation in Edo State reflects broader concerns about electoral violence and the integrity of democratic processes in Nigeria.

The APC’s allegations against Speaker Agbebaku and his associates paint a troubling picture of political thuggery and intimidation, raising questions about the safety of opposition members and the ability of citizens to participate freely in the democratic process. As the call for justice grows louder, the response of the security agencies will be closely watched by all stakeholders in Edo State and beyond.