Police commissioner sacked for holding secret meeting with the Igbinedions

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Finihan Adeoye, has been axed from his position, can report.

Adeoye was sent packing after details emerged of a grand plan he hatched at Chief Gabriel Igbinedion's home, ahead of the September 28 governorship election in the State, a source on the ground in Edo has disclosed.

The Igbinedions have long ruled the roost in Edo State.

Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion was Governor of Edo State between 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.

The Esama of the Benin Kingdom, Gabriel Igbinedion, still fancies playing the King-maker role in the South South State.

"Adeoye held this meeting in Igbinedion's home where the plan to rig the governorship election was exposed and reported to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris", our source added.

"Also in attendance at the very secret meeting in Chief Igbinedion's house were four top INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) officials serving in Edo State".

A top official of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State who craved anonymity for this story, alleged that Adeoye had become too close to the Igbinedions.

"Mr. Adeoye was recently posted to Benin barely three weeks ago and has fallen prey to very corrupt influence of the Igbinedions and their protégé Pastor Ize-Iyamu who is confirmed to have bribed the former Edo Police Commissioner with huge sums of money in a desperate bid to rig the coming governorship election in Edo State", said the high ranking APC official.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has however debunked the allegation put forward by the governing APC in the State.

Chris Nehikhare who is the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Edo State told Pulse that the APC is being economical with the truth.

“Mr. Adeoye, who replaced about three weeks ago and was saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the security arrangement for the governorship election which holds on September 28, is said to have been removed over his disagreement with the on the use of police personnel, before and on the day of election.

“It is gathered that the Governor had taken offence that the commissioner was not in support of the recent indiscriminate arrests and detention of members of the opposition PDP which is said to have been ordered by the Governor as part of the plan to manipulate the election in favour of the ruling APC.

“The commissioner’s objection to this line of action by the men under his command had drastically reduced the planned onslaught on the members of the PDP and made the release of those arrested, prompt and relatively easy.”

The Edo State government has however denied it had any part to play in Adeoye's travails.

Kassim Afegbua who is the Edo State commissioner for Information and Orientation, said: “We are not the Nigeria Police Force. The institution has its own command structure under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police. We couldn’t have played any role in who becomes Commissioner of Police. It is purely police affairs and please don’t drag us into this.

“Under the PDP regime of oppression, they bastardised the Nigeria Police and turned it into an arm of the PDP oligarchy. Under the APC change agenda, we are not only allowing the military and paramilitary institutions to run professionally, we are building a new police institution that would be responsive to the challenges of modern policing.

“As per the elections, we have nothing to fear because we believe in the sanctity of the ballot box. We are for votes but PDP is for rigging; so only they have cause to fear. We will trounce them silly come Wednesday September 28.

“Any attempt for the PDP to exhibit their peculiar traits will be resisted wholeheartedly,” Afegbua added.

Reports reaching our newsroom say the deposed Police Boss may be redeployed to another State.

Godwin Obaseki of the APC and Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP are front-runners in the Edo governorship contest.