- Safiu Kehinde
Some operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have on Tuesday stormed a hotel in Benin city to arrest witnesses of the 2024 People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Edo governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
As disclosed in a post on X, the suspected EFCC officials arrived at the hotel around 3:30pm to arrest the PDP witnesses who testified at the ongoing Edo governorship election tribunal.
The officials were, however, challenged, by individuals present at the hotel who demaned for a valid warrant for the arrest.
According to the X post, the officials had tendered no arrest warrant or petition for the arrest of the witnesses.
“Around 3.30pm this afternoon, EFCC just went to a hotel in Benin City to arrest Asue Ighodalo’s witnesses. No arrest warrant. No case. No petition. What kind of country is this?” The post read.
Recall that the PDP had vowed to challenge the result of the governorship election held on the 21st of September 2024.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, had emerged winner of the election and declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Edo state new governor.
PDP, however, rejected the result as it alleged that the result was manipulated while also pointing out at vote buying incidents reported at some polling units.
The opposition party had, yesterday vowed to upturn the results and restore Edo people’s mandate following the resumption of the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting.