Gunmen have reportedly abducted Tony Aziegbemi, the Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The incident occurred around 7 pm on Friday, just days after the party’s State Working Committee expired.
Aziegbemi was taken while entering his house after a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki in Benin City.
The abductors intercepted his vehicle at the entrance of his residence on Country Home Hotel Road, Benin City. They kidnapped him and left the driver behind.
It was noted that Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate for the 2024 gubernatorial election, was expected to be present at the meeting with the governor as well.
He said the governorship candidate was, however, not able to attend the meeting due to his meeting with the party’s leaders in Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area.
A chieftain of the party, who also spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said the abducted PDP chairman’s meeting with the governor was on how to plan to set up a caretaker committee that would take over the affairs of the party pending the election of a new executive.
“Our plan is to set up a Caretaker Committee to take over the affairs of the party since we have a very important election coming up on September 21, 2024. The Aziegbemi-led State Exco ended on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
“As you may be aware, conducting a fresh PDP State Congress in Edo State when the governorship election is around the corner may weaken our togetherness as one party towards winning the election,” he said.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, said he should be given time to respond.
