The arrests of PDP leaders in Edo State have prompted former vice president of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar to demand that Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun secure the release of the detained leaders.
In a message published on the X platform on Thursday, Atiku stated that the Police and other security services’ decision to make these kinds of arrests on the eve of the state’s governorship race is a grave insult.

He stated that it is improper to support the use of federal resources against political opponents in a democracy.

Therefore, the former PDP presidential candidate urged security forces to free the party leaders who had been detained or to charge them in court if there was sufficient justification to keep them detained.

“It’s time to hold our security agencies accountable,” he added.

“When these agencies arbitrarily detain local leaders of the @OfficialPDPNig on the eve of an off-season election, they are betraying the values of peace and harmony and depriving the opposition of vital resources that would enable it to remain a formidable opponent.

“The Inspector General of Police and other distinguished heads of security have a duty to promptly issue

When federal resources owned by the state are used to intimidate and harass political opponents, the entire foundation of peace and quiet is put at risk.