#EdoDecides: PDP Members, Others Arrested for Vote Buying

Oluwasegun SanusiSeptember 21, 20241 Mins read501

Nigeria Police Force says it has apprehended a suspected fake journalist and several members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in connection with vote-buying and voter intimidation schemes in the Edo gubernatorial elections.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest of two key suspects, Emotingham Godspower (25) and Farawei Isaac (27), from the Ufunama community in Ovia Southwest Local Government Area.

According to the police, the suspects were caught at So Cash Guest House in Ekpoma, where a large sum of cash, voter lists with corresponding monetary values, pre-filled ballot papers, and fake ID cards were recovered.

The suspects are linked to a larger network involving an individual named ‘Atiku’ and a kingpin known as ‘the boss, Adejobi stated in a press release to Channels Television.

In a related development, another group of six individuals was arrested at Aibotse Secondary School in Auchi for engaging in vote buying.

The suspects—Suleiman Abdurahim, Fatima Yakubu, Yusuf Aminat, Salihu Lukman, and Safianu Saratu—were found in possession of a cache of weapons, a large amount of money, and documents detailing voter intimidation strategies.

Meanwhile, Asue Ighodalo, the PDP governorship candidate, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately delaying voting in his strongholds in Edo Central Senatorial District.

Ighodalo cast his vote at Idionrio Primary School in Esan South East LGA, expressing concerns over the late arrival of INEC officials and unverified reports of compromised polling units.

After casting his votes, APC candidate Okpebholo commended the overall conduct of the election.

West Africa Weekly earlier reported that the deputy guber candidate of the Labour Party, Asamah Kadiri, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of engaging in vote buying during the ongoing Edo State governorship election.

Kadiri, who voted at Auchi Ward 1, Unit 6, alleged that the APC resorted to desperate measures to influence voters, particularly in Auchi and other parts of Edo North.

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