The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday alleged an attempted arrest of one of its key witnesses in the ongoing governorship election tribunal.
The tribunal proceedings are scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
In a widely circulated video, the PDP governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, alongside the party’s lead counsel, Ken Mozia, and other party members, was seen intervening during an altercation involving plainclothes operatives allegedly attempting to make an arrest.
A party member in the video claimed that the incident occurred while the counsel and witnesses were preparing for the tribunal hearing in a conference room at a hotel.
Describing the encounter, the individual said: “All of a sudden, one of the security operatives said that the EFCC wants to arrest witnesses of Ighodalo who are supposed to be in court on Wednesday in the first public hearing.
“They had no papers, they had no warrant of arrest, they had nothing, and they just presented an identity card. Who does that? And taking into the fact that it is like reinforcing brazen criminality.
“Ighodalo was even diplomatic and let them understand the enormity of what they are doing. The Nigerian Security Services and the EFCC cannot be an offshoot of a political party or people who want to pervert justice. So they are doing this on the eve of the case.
“These witnesses are not on the run. There is no invitation prior to this time asking these people to report anywhere. They just came, and there are three young men who now went back to their vehicle and left the whole place in chaos.”
An official of the hotel, reportedly owned by a prominent politician, stated that the operatives claimed they were investigating a matter and that the person they were searching for was not a guest at the hotel. According to the official, the operatives proceeded to the conference room, sparking the commotion captured in the video.
Reacting to the incident, Chris Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP State Caretaker Committee, criticised the actions as disgraceful and accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of being used to intimidate their witnesses.
He said, “It is disgraceful that Edo State government has been reduced to this, where state powers are abused and, in some cases, act as the enforcement arm of the thugs.”
However, a state government official dismissed the accusations, denying any involvement.
The official stated, “What happened had nothing to do with the state government. The PDP is bringing us into the issue, but it has nothing to do with us.”
In response to inquiries, an EFCC official denied the agency’s involvement, replying via text, “I don’t think it is EFCC.”
The incident has drawn significant attention, raising concerns about the possible intimidation of witnesses ahead of the tribunal hearing.