Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has accused the police of arresting and intimidating his party’s supporters in the ongoing election.
Ighodalo, who spoke on Saturday at ward 1, PU 3, in Ewohimi, Esan south-east LGA, where he cast his ballot, alleged that one of the PDP’s supporters was arrested by police while attempting to vote.
He alleged that only PDP supporters are being arrested by the security agents, but they’re ignoring APC supporters who are “doing the worst things imaginable.”
“One of our supporters was arrested by men in mufti carrying guns. Nobody should carry a gun to a polling unit; that’s against the law and regulation.
“But you just see people misbehaving, oppressing, and trying to intimidate our voters. We won’t be intimidated and oppressed.
“How come it is only PDP supporters that are being arrested? Every day, you see APC supporters doing the worst things imaginable; nobody arrests them, nobody even investigates them.
“The authorities should create a free and fair level playing field. It is getting too much, particularly from the police force or people that claim to be policemen. If policemen want to be politicians, they should retire.
“INEC has been delayed for over two hours; the only fair thing will be for closure to be extended by maybe for 2 or 3 hours. So that everybody can get to vote.”
Ighodalo and his party had failed to sign the Peace Accord ahead of the election, citing the arrest of more than 10 party leaders by the police.