Police Arrest Edo PDP Gubernatorial Campaign Spokesman Over Alleged Incitement

Rev. Olu Martins, the Director-General (Media) of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Election Campaign Organisation, has been apprehended and brought before the court on charges of making inflammatory and inciting remarks, as announced by police authorities in the state.

In a press briefing held on Tuesday in Benin City, Commissioner of Police in Edo, CP Funsho Adegboye, asserted that Olu Martins’ statements have the potential to instigate violence within the state.

The arrest follows the circulation of a viral video allegedly featuring Olu Martins advocating for the destruction of campaign materials belonging to opposition parties and issuing threats against dissenters to the PDP candidate. Moreover, he purportedly urged Engineer David Olukoga, the Director of Operation of the Edo state-owned security network, to take action against individuals not aligning with the PDP and its candidate.

Responding to the video, Jaret Tenebe, the State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), called for the intervention of the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Security Service to apprehend the PDP gubernatorial campaign spokesman.

During the press briefing in Benin, CP Adegboye stated, “He (Olu Martins) was invited to serve as a deterrent to others of like behaviors, and we also decided that the matter should be resolved at the court.”

The Commissioner urged political stakeholders in the state to adhere to established rules and regulations, emphasizing that electoral processes should promote civic engagement rather than incite criminal behavior.

CP Adegboye reiterated the commitment of the Command to uphold the law and emphasized that politicians found in contravention of legal statutes, particularly those related to incitement and electoral misconduct, will face decisive action, regardless of their status.

“I want to again warn all our political party gladiators to please play the game in accordance with the laid rules. Inciting violence is a serious crime in the criminal codes and also in the electoral acts,” he cautioned.

The PDP spokesman was arraigned at the state criminal court and subsequently granted bail.