Atiku, Obi, Kick As Wike Is ‘Quarantine’ In Hotel Room Ahead Edo Guber Election

Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the PDP in 2019 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the security siege on the hotel accommodation of Governor Nyesom Wike in Benin, the Edo state capital ahead the Saturday governorship election in the state.

BIGPEN understands Governor Wike who was appointed Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship election, is in Benin on official capacity.

His counterpart from the North, Governor Ganduje of Kano State , is also said to be in the state as chairman of APC national campaign council for the Edo gubernatorial election.

Reports say while Wike was being harassed by security operative, Ganduje was allowed free movement in the state.

Condemning the reported siege on the governor, Atiku took to his verified twitter handle, saying that the development was not a good way of showing fairness as promised recently by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“A promise of free & fair election cannot be mere lip service. It’s a commitment & should be demonstrated by way of equal access & restriction to every stakeholder. Blockading the hotel of @OfficialPDPNig governors in the eve of the Edo election isn’t a good way to show fairness, he wrote.

In the same vein, former vice presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi, said that the development has made caricature of the fairness promised by the APC-led government.

“In the spirit of equity & fairness, Gov Wike & @OfficialPDPNig leaders on party assignment should be given equal opportunities as those of the APC.

“Restricting them while Govs Ganduje, Uzodinma, and others are given unimpeded access is a negation of democracy and a caricature of the fairness promised by the APC govt”, he tweeted.

Earlier, the chairman of the PDP in Rivers state, Ambassador Akawor Desmond had raised the alarm that 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 Police men.

Akawor, in a statement, recalls Governor Wike was appointed Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship election; this is 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, he said.

The party’s chairman, said, however that in a breach of the pledge they made, security agencies have “decided to harass and intimidate Governor Wike who has not done any wrong”.

He warned that the Rivers People would hold the “IGP responsible for anything that happens to our Governor”.