As political campaigns intensify ahead of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Udoh Oberaifo, the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate, has raised concerns, claiming that there have been three attempts to kidnap him.
Daily Post reports that Oberaifo alleged that he escaped three kidnap attempts in the course of his campaigns for the governorship election.
The AAC governorship candidate, who made the allegations at a press briefing on Saturday in Benin City also alleged that security agencies have withdrawn security personnel attached to him.
He also alleged that an instruction had been issued for his campaign billboards to be removed across the Benin metropolis, noting that the outdoor agency who he had already paid for the advertising space told him that they had been given instructions not to put up the campaign advert materials.
According to him, as many of you know, I have been running my campaign with one mission in mind which is to serve the people of Edo State with integrity, fairness, and a deep commitment to positive change.
“I entered this race with the belief that democracy is the foundation upon which we can build a better future for all, where every voice can be heard, and every candidate can compete on a level playing field.
“However, in recent times, my safety has been severely compromised. I have narrowly escaped three kidnap attempts during this campaign.
“These were not just random acts of violence—they were targeted attacks meant to silence me, to instil fear, and to disrupt the democratic process.
“I also have it on record that my billboards were instructed to be removed from across the Benin metropolis. As we speak, the vendors have taken money but stated they were given instructions not to put it up.
“In addition to these threats, my security details have been inexplicably withdrawn. I am currently disarmed and left vulnerable, despite taking the necessary steps to address this through official channels”, he said.
Oberaifo said on the withdrawal of his security details, he had written to the Inspector General of Police and also last week met with the Deputy Inspector General in Abuja.
The AAC governorship candidate, who said the Deputy Inspector General assured him that signals would be sent to the various police commands to act swiftly on the matter, noted that until now, he is still waiting for action to be taken and the protection that every citizen is entitled to.
“The situation is dire. My life is at risk, and by extension, so is the democratic process in Edo State.
“When a candidate cannot safely campaign when intimidation and fear become tools in the political arsenal, we must all ask ourselves what kind of democracy we are fostering.
“I am here today not just as a candidate, but as a citizen who believes that politics should be clean, that every candidate should have the same level playing field, and that the safety of all participants should be guaranteed.
“I am calling on the government, on the security agencies, and on the people of Edo State to recognize the gravity of this situation”, he added.
He, however, called on the government and security agencies to take immediate action to restore his security details and to also ensure that no further attempts are made on his life.
While assuring that he would not be intimidated, he stated that he would not be silenced as he would continue to fight for a better Edo State.
He posited that in a true democracy, no one should be allowed to win through fear and intimidation, stating that there must be principles of fairness, justice, and equal opportunity for all candidates.
Efforts to get the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Mujiwa Adejobi to speak on the matter proved abortive as he neither picked his calls nor responded to messages.
