Edo: PDP, APC trade words over alleged assault on market woman

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been trading words over the harassment of a trader.The PDP, in a press conference on Friday at the party’s secretariat in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, stated their intent in fighting the cause of a trader, who made allegations of harassment against the state’s Commissioner of Transport, Isimeme Iriogbewho.

A trader in the Benin market, Oghosa Ejemai, sought damages for alleged assault during a government raid on illegal street trading on February 2, 2016.

“Instead of him (Iriogbewho) saying sorry, he went out of his office. Till date, I’m still feeling pains in my chest and my lost seven weeks pregnancy prompted me to fight this case to the end,” she said.

The Publicity Secretary of Edo PDP, Chris Nehikhare, said that Mrs Ejemei has the backing of the party.

“Mrs Ejemei has instructed her lawyer to sue Mr Isimeme for a sum of 100 million Naira for assault,” he said.

The Edo State Commissioner for information, Mr Kassim Afegbua, while responding to the claim, said that the PDP is only seeking cheap popularity.

“She cannot abuse our traffic laws and other market or trading laws and want to seek redress on the issue of alleged assault.

“We thought that issues such as this, should have been handled by the Police; they would do their investigation and institute the case if actually it was right.

“But she went to PDP secretariat, whether PDP has now become headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, that would also be proven,” he said.