The Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, yesterday, said the party was deeply saddened by the kidnap of nine electoral officers deployed to conduct the party’s ward delegates congress at Etsako Central Local Government Area of the state.
The nine electoral officers were said to be on their way to carry out the exercise when they were abducted at Jattu in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
Addressing journalists in Benin on the successful conduct of the ward delegates Congress ahead of the party’s primaries in the state, Aziegbemi said the exercise was peaceful and credible except for the abduction of the electoral officers.
“The exercise was peaceful, fair, and credible. We had only one incident. That is why the panel led by His Excellence, the governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, decided to cancel Etsako Central.
“So, we are not going to have results from Etsako Central. And why is that so? The vehicle conveying the electoral officers was kidnapped somewhere in Jattu yesterday morning.
“The Commissioner of Police was immediately called upon to get to the bottom of this. The DPO, and the vigilante around that area were tagged on the issue.
“Unfortunately, as of the time we were closing the Congress (Sunday), we could not lay hands on the electoral officers.
“I am sure that the panel in their wisdom decided that leaving out Etsako Central will not have any substantial effect on the overall results in the area of the governorship primaries that will take place on February 22.