Police Arrest PDP, LP House of Rep Candidate in Ughelli
Hundreds of persons including Ughelli North, Ughelli South/Udu Federal constituency candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Hon Solomon Awhinahwi and Labour Party, (LP), Hon. Julius Akpovoka were among those arrested for various electoral related offences by officers of the Ughelli Police Area Command.
The two candidates were seen battered behind the counter in company of some of their suspected thugs and supporters while they pleaded with the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Ughelli Division “A” police station, Mr. Hassan Galadima, Hon Awhinawhi to release them to participate in the rescheduled election in the areas.
An orgy of violence had forced INEC to suspend elections in Udu Local Government Area till Sunday.
The DPO incharge of the area, Mr. Galadima had accused duo of being the brains behind the electoral violence recorded in the area for the past 24hours (Saturday to Sunday morning), saying; “For now, both of you are prisoners and you should worry about your current position as prisoners rather than thinking about your elections.”
Continuing, he said: “It is a shame that the likes of you are the ones being voted for to go and make laws at the National Assembly while you are here in company of your thugs breaking electoral laws by causing electoral violence.”
Meanwhile, suspected thugs loyal to the Ethiope East council boss, Chief Faith Majemite also assaulted journalists present at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC office, Isiokolo.
It was learnt that trouble started when a chieftain of the Labour Party, LP, Dr Festus Arunaye accosted Chief Majemite in company of her armed police escort and suspected thugs inside the INEC office for allegedly presiding over distribution of voting materials.
In an attempt to capture the scuffle on camera, suspected thugs loyal to the council boss threatened to break the camera of the AIT correspondent and the Vanguard reporter saying: “After this election, I’ld find you to your house and you would have yourself to blame.”
On her part, Chief Majemite questioned the presence of Dr Arunaye in the INEC office while Arunaye alleged that Chief Majemite harassed him when he raised alarm of her presence inside the INEC office despite warnings by the electoral umpire on the presence of politicians with their armed escorts at the various INEC centers.
