The crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the conduct of its governorship primaries has taken a new dimension as a member of the House of Representatives, Billy Osawaru, has asked the police to arrest and prosecute the state chairman and publicity secretary of the party, Jarrett Tenebe and Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, respectively, over alleged threat to his life and that of his family.
OsunDailyNG reports that the federal lawmaker sought the arrest and prosecution of the duo in a petition titled, ‘Complaints: Harassment and threat to life’, dated February 27, 2024 and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The petition personally signed by the lawmaker was also copied to the Commissioner of Police
Edo State, Director General Department of State Services (DSS) Abuja and the National Security Adviser,
Abuja.
In the petition, the lawmaker who represents Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency, alleged that the threat to his life and that of his family was as a result of the just conducted Edo State Governorship primaries of the APC.
Parts of the petition read: “I write to bring to your attention a worrying situation and threat to my life and that of my family, whereby some individuals in the persons of Mr.Jarrett Tenebe (Acting State Chairman of APC, Edo State) and Prince Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie (APC State Publicity Secretary, Edo State) are in the forefront.
“Arising from the just conducted Edo State Governorship Primaries of the APC, some of us who felt dissatisfied by some actions that were taken by some state Excos which were deliberate and did not meet the principles and the laid down procedures of the party.
“As a law abiding citizen of the country and as a legislator for that matter, I and some dissatisfied members of the Party organised a very peaceful protest which is within our constitutional right, Just to register our grievances.
“To our dismay, after the protest, we have been receiving very disturbing and troubling calls, harassment, threats to our lives and those of our family members and wrong accusations to my person etc.
“All these, we have in good authority and credible information, are being perpetrated by the said Mr. Jarret Tenebe and Prince Peter Uwadiae Igbinigle and their actions can be viewed as a threat to my rights to life and dignity as assured under chapter 4 of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“I would therefore like you to take this as a formal complaint and state that Mr. Jarret Tenebe and Prince Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie should be invited for questioning, interrogation and possible prosecution.
“I equally wish to state that should anything harmful happens to me or any member of my family or household,I would want the Nigeria Police force to hold Mr. Jarret Tenebe and Prince Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie responsible.
“I am accessible to providing additional information regarding this matter where necessary.”
When contacted, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Peter Uwadiae simply said the petition should be ignored.
When asked if he has been invited by the police, he said, “I have not been invited and I will not be invited.”
OsunDailyNG reports that the outcome of the governorship primaries conducted on February 17 and 22 had factionalized the leadership of the party in the state.
During the February 17 primary of the party three aspirants laid claim to the governorship ticket of the party.
The chairman of the governorship primary election, Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, declared Dennis Idahosa the winner of the primary; Dr Stanley Ugboaja Uzoamaka, the chief returning officer of the primary, declared that Senator Monday Okpebholo won, while Ojo Babatunde, the returning officer for Etsako Central Local Government Area, declared Anamero Dekeri Sunday as the APC gubernatorial candidate.
The development prompted the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to declare the exercise inconclusive and fixed February 22 for the completion of the primary.
After the February 22 primary, the governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, declared Senator Monday Okpebholo as the governorship candidate of the party.
