The Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Campaign Organization in Benue State North Central Nigeria, Cletus Tyokyaa has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Tyokyaa was arrested in Makurdi metropolis on his way to his village, Daudu, about 14 kilometres to Makurdi the State Capital after he was found in possession of about N100,000 cash.
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom disclosed this while speaking with Journalists shortly after casting his vote at Tse Ortom Polling Unit, Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Council headquarters.
The Governor called for the immediate and unconditional release of the state PDP campaign Director by officials of the EFCC.
“That is no offence, it is wrong. I have more than One Hundred Thousand Naira on me but am not buying votes and he wasn’t buying votes.
“So, if they have been paid as agents by another political party to stabilize us on this election day that we have prepared for over one year, that is not correct”.
Governor Ortom who is a Senatorial candidate for Benue North West Zone expressed optimism about his victory at the end of the polls.
“My expectation is that I will win and any other candidates will win but whoever that God wants will emerge as the winner and am willing to accept the outcome of the polls”.
Ortom urged Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to be transparent in the transmission of the results.
“The INEC staff on ground and all other workers who will be handling the processes that will lead to the declaration of the results should ensure transparency, fairness and equity”.
He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for introducing the digital voting technology and urged improvement of electronic voting and transmission.
“This is an improvement from the previous exercise of accreditation and voting and I can guess that today, it is going to be faster and I’m happy that the people have heeded to my admonishments that the election be peaceful”.
Ortom explained that the choice of relocating about 20 polling units in his Nzorov Council Ward followed their displacement in the clashes between farmers and herdsmen.
“All the polling units in my Council Ward are voting in Gbajimba, the Council headquarters because they have been displaced from their villages. The relocation of the voters to this place was done by stakeholders following insecurity situation in the area”.
Voice of Nigeria Correspondent, Aloysius Umalo reports that Governor Samuel Ortom casted his vote at about 9:50 am alongside his wife and other members of his family.
Accreditation and voting began simultaneously in Gbajimna, the hometown of Governor Samuel Ortom at about 9:30am due to logistic problems.
PIAK
