Secretariat invasion: Call Okpebholo to order, PDP tells Tinubu 

The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state, has decried what it discribed as “violent and brutal invasion of its secretariat by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party called on President Bola Tinubu to rein in on the APCand governor Monday Okpebholo to avoid anarchy and chaos, adding that  it was deeply worried over the party “continued brigandage, illegality, and violent assault on democracy”.

Chairman of the PDP in Edo state, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, disclosed the incident to journalists on Friday, following alleged forceful takeover of the party’s secretariat by the APC.

He insisted that the PDP was the legitimate tenant of the said property located on 59, Airport Road, in Benin City, noting that “the APC as the previous tenant, faught themselves and took the matter of relocation up to the Appeal Court.

He said the APC at the time secured the order and moved to a location down airport road and from there to Ikpokpan road.

Continuing , Aziegbemi said: “At 1.31pm on Thursday, January 16, 2025, the APC, using several Hilux vans and other vehicles, and their thugs, backed by police officers from the Government House,  sack the PDP from its secretariat on 59, Airport Road, Benin City.

“The entire operation was violent and brutal as has never been heard of or seen before. And sadly, it lasted for more than an hour.”

The PDP chair said the party’s secretariat was vandalized and belongings looted, adding, “I was forcefully bundled out of my office.

“Worst still, the police and other security agencies in the State who are supposed to put them in check appear to be either complacent or complicit.” 

The APC chairman in the State, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe had said the party repossessed the building because the property rightfully belonged to it.

He added: “The APC renewed the rent of the building for a period of 7 years in 2020 before the PDP, with the help then  Governor Godwin Obaseki, forcefully took it and drove us out of the place.”