Edo poll: Rivers Gov. Wike held “hostage’’ in Benin as soldiers, police, DSS lay siege to his hotel

A combined team of soldiers, police and the DSS numbering over 300 have laid siege to the hotel where Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, lodged in Benin, Edo State capital in the ongoing governorship poll in the state.

Wike is in Benin to monitor the election as the Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign organization just as Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is the APC’s campaign DG, who is also in Benin.

Persecondnews reports that incumbent Gov. Godwin Obaseki who defected from APC to PDP and Osagie Ize-Iyamu of APC as well as 12 other candidates are slugging it out in the poll in which 1.7 million eligible registered voters are expected to elect a governor.

The Chairman Rivers PDP, Ambassador Akawor Desmond, had posted on the Twitter handle of the Rivers State Governor: “The Hotel where the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike is lodging while on official assignment in Benin, Edo State has been held siege by over 300 Policemen.

“Recall that Governor Wike was appointed Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship election; this is the same position Governor Ganduje of Kano State occupies for his party the APC.

“Governor Ganduje and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State are all in Benin, Edo State carrying out their assignment for the APC without any molestation or intimidation.

“And in a breach of the pledge, they made security agencies have decided to harass and intimidate Governor Wike who has not done any wrong.

“Rivers People Warn that we Shall hold the IGP responsible for anything that happens to our Governor.”

Also, human rights activist and justice crusader, Deji Adeyanju, alerted on his Twitter handle: “Breaking: Soldiers, police, and the DSS  have surrounded the hotel where Gov. Wike is lodging in Benin.

“This harassment and intimidation is condemnable especially as Ganduje, Hope Uzodinma and other APC govs are in Benin and moving freely.’’