By DEBORAH COKER

The Edo Salvation Group (ESG), a non-partisan group, has called on the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee (NPC) to investigate allegations of bias leveled against the Police Command in Edo.

The ESG which appealed to the committee to carry out the investigation ahead of Saturday governorship election also urged that it be extended to the investigation to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This is contained in a statement by its Coordinator, Mr Mani Ekpe, on Thursday in Abuja.

Ekpe expressed concern that the Abubakar panel since its inaugurations in 2015 was unable to bring the major election contenders to a peace table.

He urged the committee to interrogate claims that officials of the ruling party in the state were being locked up by the police.

?We particularly note that for the first time, the National Peace Committee is unable to bring the different parties to sign a peace accord.

?This is as a result of the distrust by the PDP and some other parties on the actions of the Police and INEC.

?It is on this note that we call on the Abubakar committee to address the issues of bias particularly made against the police and INEC.

?No one can enter an election with the fear that the referee is against him or her.

?That is the chorus in Edo today and we thus call on the Abdulsalami Abubakar Committee to, in the interest of peace of the nation, interrogate this development,? he said.

Ekpe also expressed concern over speculations that the Director-General for campaign of one of the political parties in the state and other directors have been penciled down for arrest.

?Instead of arresting party officials, we urge the police to retrace its steps and where issues are established against anyone such person should be taken to court immediately,? he said. (NAN)

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