Following fear of possible security breach, the rally scheduled by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, to welcome defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, into its fold, can no longer hold.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammad Adamu, gave the order.
The police boss ordered the Commissioner of Police in the state that everything should be put in place to prevent the rally.
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, said the police boss had, apart from ordering that the rally should not hold, directed the Commissioner of Police to inform members of the APC in the state of the suspension of the rally.
The order for the suspension of the rally is contained in a memo issued to the state government by the Inspector General of Police following a request that the rally should not hold for security reasons.
The memo, with reference number CB: 2002/IGP.SECPABJ/VOL.172/446, dated December 12, 2019, and signed by ACP Idowu Owohunwa reads: “I am directed by the Inspector General of Police to convey his warmest regards and to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s letter ODG.134/59 of December 12, 2019 on the above-underlined subject.
“In cognisance of the security consequences of the proposed mega rally, I am to confirm that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, to emplace appropriate security framework that is directed at suspending the rally until further notice.
“He has also been directed to summon a meeting of all parties involved in the political development to engage them towards giving effect to his directives in overriding internal security interest.
“I am to renew the assurances of the highest regards of the Inspector General of Police to Your Excellency, please.”
It would be recalled that the APC in the state is divided between two factions.
Cases of violent clashes reported to be involving the factions have been recorded on different occasions.
