As the Edo State governorship election commenced, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested several individuals suspected of vote buying in the Egor Local Government Area around 10:00 am. However, some local residents argued that those arrested were not involved in vote buying, claiming that they were being unfairly targeted by the EFCC.

In a separate but related incident, the Nigerian police apprehended thugs believed to be loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to reports from SaharaReporters, the arrests were part of an overnight operation aimed at preventing election-related violence. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrests and provided further details in a statement released on Saturday.

Adejobi stated that two political thugs were arrested: 43-year-old Edwin Obanor and 41-year-old Audu Tajudeen, both PDP members from Igara Akoko, Edo. Acting on intelligence that certain individuals had been armed to disrupt the election, the police raided multiple locations. Obanor, identified as a leader of an armed group, was arrested at Oredo Ward 4 around 9:00 pm, while Tajudeen was apprehended in Igara Akoko on the eve of the election.

During the search of their belongings, police recovered three cut-to-size locally fabricated pistols from Obanor, and a locally made gun was found in Tajudeen’s possession. These arrests were part of the ongoing efforts by security forces to ensure a peaceful and violence-free election in Edo State.