‘Police Invasion of Dino Melaye’s Residence’: PDP Blasts Buhari, IGP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over the alleged invasion of Senator Dino Melaye’s residence by men of the Nigeria Police on Friday.

The PDP also berated the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for allegedly desecrating his office by allowing the Buhari Presidency to use him to hunt opposition politicians.

Senator Melaye, who is the Director of Civil Societies of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, had few days ago raised the alarm that his residence had been surrounded by some police officers.

The opposition party however claimed on Friday that the policemen “invaded” Senator’s House today in a “Gestapo” style.

The party is demanding that “the invading security official vacate the premises immediately,” adding that, “Nigerians can recall that Senator Melaye had a few days ago alerted of a plot by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to forcefully arrest him and inject him with poisonous substances due to his outspokenness against the misrule, corruption and infractions of the Buhari administration.”

The PDP said, “It is therefore devious of the Nigeria Police, which had distanced itself from the plot, to turn round to invade Senator Melaye’s residence held hostage and beat up his domestic aides.

“This invasion is part of the larger machination by the Buhari Presidency to use state apparatus of power, particularly the police under IGP Idris to harass, intimidate and clamp down on opposition members in a bid to create fear and subjugate the opposition ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“The party recalls the series of attacks and harassment on PDP leaders, including the airport attack on its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by security officials and notes that such is a clear recipe for anarchy and a political crisis that is capable of destabilizing our nation.

“The PDP therefore cautions the Buhari Presidency to desist from such provocative acts as such cannot bend the resolve by Nigerians to replace him with the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as their next President, come February 16, 2018,” read a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan.