Gunmen kidnapped the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, Tony Aziegbemi, on Friday.
Mr Aziegbemi was kidnapped at a spot close to his residence at the government reservation area in Benin City.
His abduction happened less than a month after the party’s primary election was held ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state.
A source told journalists that the abductors, operating in two Toyota Corolla cars, double-crossed the PDP chairman’s jeep at a speed bump in the area to effect the abduction.
Mr Aziegbemi was returning from a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki when the incident took place, the source said.
Narrating the ordeal, the driver to Mr Aziegbemi said, “When we left Government House and headed home at about 11:00 p.m., I noticed the cars trailing us, so I decided to take a diversion. We never knew they were kidnappers.
“Few minutes later, the same cars appeared behind us at a speed breaker and blocked our car in the front.
“Gunmen came out of the cars, pointed guns at us and ordered the chairman to enter their car and they took him away,’’ he said.
He added that other gang members took over the chairman’s jeep and abandoned it on Sapele Road.
A police spokesman in Edo, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the abduction.
“It is confirmed; it happened in the jurisdiction of New Etete Police Division, also known as Godwin Abbe Police Station; that is where it happened.
“The Commissioner of Police, Funsdo Adegboye, has ordered tactical teams to go after the hoodlums and we pray that by the grace of God we will rescue him unhurt,’’ he said.
