Kogi election: Army arrest APC chieftains with large bag of money

Ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi state, the Nigeria Army has arrested some chieftains of the All Progressive Congressive (APC ) with large bag containing money.

It was gathered that the APC chieftains were arrested at the Itobe Bridge along Ajaokuta-Ayingba road on Friday by the military men for being in possession of certain sum of money.

A senior military source who doesn’t want his name in print because he was not authorized to speak confirmed the arrest.

He said, “Yes, our men have arrested some APC chieftains at the Itobe Bridge along Ajaokuta-Ayingba road during a stop and search operation. And a bag containing cash was found in their car”.

When asked whether the arrested APC chieftains have been released, he replied, “No comment”.

Speaking on the development, an APC chieftain, Dr Friday Makama expressed displeasure over development, saying those arrested had not committed any electoral offence, alleging the army of being bias.

The Director General of the Kogi State Task Force explained that the money in possession of the chieftains was meant for party members and not for anything else.

He ” I was not arrested by the military men, I don’t have anything against the military for supporting the police to safe our democracy. But the way it is now, the military are no longer after the thugs, the military are no longer after the arms and ammunition but you see a situation where the military will stop the supporters of the APC and begin to take the money that belongs to the party from them.

“I was informed that my council chairman and others were being held on Itobe Bridge for supporting a political party and up till this moment they are still being held . This is why the role of the army become suspicious. I don’t see myself being arrested because I was not part of the that entourage.

” We have a stakeholders meeting before they took off. The only offence they committed is that the party send them the money for the purpose of the election. The is why the role of the army is suspicious”, the governor aide added.