Three reporters including Deborah Coker of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Sunny Inarumen of African Independent Television, AIT, his Cameraman and Osamuyi Ogbomo, of the Independent Television, ITV, were, yesterday, arrested by a combined team of the vigilante group in Edo State and the police for covering a factional primary election organized by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, alleged to be loyal to the Vice Chairman, South-South, Dan Orbih in Edo South senatorial district.
Faction of the Orbih’s delegates held its primary election at an event centre by the Airport gate while Obaseki’s delegates held theirs at Ogbemudia stadium.
The reporters were taken to Oko Central police station and detained for hours before being released after their statements were obtained.
According to Inarumen,, “We were in the venue of the primary election when armed men entered the place and started shooting and forced us into their vehicle and drove us to the police station.
"They were asking us why we went to cover an illegal gathering.”
Also speaking the story, Coker said they were arrested by a combined team of Edo Security Network, of the State Vigilante and the Police, adding that “Even after we told them that we were journalists carrying our constitutional duty, they insisted that we were providing coverage for an illegal primary that was why they took us to Oko Police station.”
In the melee, the chairman of Ward Five Oredo PDP, Tunde Igbinoba was shot and his condition cannot be ascertained at press time, while several vehicles were destroyed.
Also, at the indoor sports hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium where Obaseki’s delegates converged, the former Majority leader of the state House of Assembly, Matthew Iduoriyekenmwen emerged as the candidate after defeating the incumbent Senator Mathew Uroghide just as Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama emerged the candidate at the Dan Orbih led delegates primaries.
Former Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen emerged won the ticket for the Edo Central senatorial District, for the Orbih faction while Sen Clifford Ordia, the two term incumbent senator emerged in the Obaseki’s led faction.
In Edo North, Pascal Ugbome, emerged the candidate of the Orbih’s led primary while Mrs. Victoria Edelokun won the ticket of Obaseki led delegates in the parallel primaries held.
