By Bayero Ade
The Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused security personnel of attempting to arrest one of its key witnesses ahead of the Governorship Election Tribunal session, which is set to resume on Wednesday.
A video circulating online reportedly shows Asue Ighodalo, the PDP’s candidate in the September 21 election, accompanied by his lead counsel, Ken Mozia, and other party members.
According to Vanguard, in the footage, a plainclothes security operative is seen attempting to detain a witness, although the effort was blocked by those present.
Sources within the party revealed that the confrontation took place in a hotel conference room where Ighodalo and his team were preparing for the tribunal hearing. The individual claimed that a security agent had mentioned that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was seeking to arrest witnesses scheduled to appear in court the following day.
One source stated: “The operatives presented no formal arrest warrant or documentation—just an ID card. This is highly suspicious and seems like an underhanded attempt to interfere with the process.”
Ighodalo remained composed during the incident and sought to explain to the operatives the gravity of their actions, emphasising that the EFCC and other security agencies should not be manipulated for political purposes to obstruct justice. He further asserted that the witnesses were not fleeing and had not been formally summoned by authorities before the incident.
A hotel staff member, reportedly connected to a well-known politician in the state, stated that the operatives had claimed to be investigating a case but insisted the individual they were seeking was not staying at the hotel. Tensions escalated when the operatives entered the hotel conference room, triggering further disorder.
Chris Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of the State Caretaker Committee, condemned the actions, describing them as disgraceful. He accused the EFCC of targeting PDP witnesses as part of an attempt to undermine the party’s case. “It’s shameful that the Edo State government has become complicit in such acts, using state power to promote political thuggery,” Nehikhare said.
A government official, however, denied any involvement, asserting that the incident had no connection to the state government. “The PDP’s claims are baseless, and the state government had no role in this matter,” the official stated.
An EFCC representative, when contacted, also denied any involvement, adding: “I don’t believe this incident had anything to do with the EFCC.”
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