Governorship Candidate Raises Alarm After Escap!ng Three k!dnap Attempts

The claims come as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the September 21, 2024, election.

The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Udoh Oberaifo, has expressed grave concerns about his personal safety.

Oberaifo, who spoke on Saturday during a press briefing in Benin, the state capital, alleged that he had survived three attempted kidnappings, while noting that security agencies had withdrawn the personnel assigned to protect him.

The claims come as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the September 21, 2024, election.

Additionally, Oberaifo accused the authorities of ordering the removal of his campaign billboards across Benin City, despite having paid for the advertising space.

He stated that the outdoor advertising agency informed him that they had received instructions not to display his campaign materials.

Oberaifo emphasised his commitment to running a campaign focused on serving the people of Edo State with integrity, fairness, and a dedication to positive change.

He expressed concerns that the alleged incidents may be attempts to undermine his candidacy and suppress his message.

He said, “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.”

He added, “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“In addition to these threats, my security details have been inexplicably withdrawn.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.

He further stated that he has taken formal steps to address the withdrawal of his security details, noting that he has written to the Inspector General of Police and, furthermore, met with the Deputy Inspector General in Abuja last week.

During the meeting, he said the Deputy Inspector General assured him that directives would be issued to the relevant police commands to promptly address the matter.

However, Mr. Oberaifo expressed his disappointment that, despite the assurance, no action had been taken yet to restore his security protection.

He emphasised that, as a citizen, he was entitled to protection and is still awaiting the necessary measures to be implemented to ensure his safety.

“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.

While he vowed that he will be intimidated, called on the government and security agencies to take immediate action to restore his security details and ensure that no further attempts are made on his life.

He maintained 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.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters’ efforts to reach out to the Edo State Police Command were unsuccessful as the command’s spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor didn’t take his calls.

As of the time of filling this report, he has yet to respond to a text message sent to him.

‎