Election Violence: Police Arrest Rev Martins, Asue Ighodalo Campaign Council Spokesman

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By Correspondent

The Police in Edo State, yesterday effected the arrest of Rev Olu Martins, spokesman of Asue Ighodalo Campaign Council over his call for members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to violently attack loyalists of opposition parties in the state.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party have condemned the PDP for harbouring and encouraging Rev Martins to instigate violence in the countdown to Edo September 21, 2024 governorship election.

Sources confirmed to Midwest Herald that the Asue Iguodalo spokesman was allegedly picked up at Protea Hotel in Benin City in the earlier hours of June 10, 2024, and taken to the State Police Command for questioning.

Multiple police sources told Midwest Herald that, the religious preacher and politician was with the police over his inflammatory statement. The source added that he was subsequently released on bail after taking his statement on caution.

A report monitored by Midwest Herald quoted the State Police spokesman, Mr. Chidi Nwabuzor to have condemned Martins, insisting that he was very disappointed in him, as the utterances were from a man who is supposed to be an activist and human rights crusader.

“I am highly disappointed in Rev. Martins. This is a man who is supposed to be a human rights activist advocating violence.

“The police will not tolerate such behaviour from anybody, no matter his or her status. The law must take its due course.

“The Edo State Police Command will not tolerate such utterances,” the report stated.

Trouble started for Rev Martins when the video of a news report in an online popular TMC television where Rev. Martins called for the demolition of the billboards of Mr. Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party (LP) governorsip candidate in the September 21 election in Edo State, emerged.

In the viral video, the embattled preacher was seen addressing some coordinators of Ighodalo’s campaign at an undisclosed location, and charged them to among other things, remove campaign materials of the opposition LP.

“Those who leave the party (defectors) create vacancy. The one we can beg, we’ll beg, the ones we can’t beg, when we meet them in a corner, we’ll beat them (sorry I am a pastor). How did Akpata banner get to Ring Road?

“Can you put the banner of another party like that in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos where Tinubu is? Where, MC Oluomo is?

“From the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force. Who does not know will know and who does not know will kpeme,” Rev Martins was quoted as saying.