By Terna Chikpa
The campaign council of Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo has alleged that certain authorities approached the Miyetti Allah national president with conditions for his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The council alleged that Bodejo was asked to withdraw from the senatorial contest and wait until 2031 before contesting any election in Taraba State as conditions for his release.
Nigerian Tribune reports that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested and detained the Taraba Central senatorial aspirant shortly after he purchased his expression of interest form in Jalingo.
It was gathered that the APC senatorial aspirant, who had earlier stated that his socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, was mobilising northern votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid, was later released by the DSS and handed over to the EFCC in Abuja, where he remains in custody.
Meanwhile, the Bodejo Campaign Council, led by Alhaji Adamu Isa, condemned the manner in which the aspirant was arrested and allegedly humiliated before his supporters.
Appealing to the APC National Secretariat and other stakeholders to intervene and ensure justice, the campaign director-general also called for Bodejo’s immediate release from EFCC custody. He further alleged that the consensus committee set up by the Taraba State APC never approached Bodejo for any meeting before the arrest.
“It could have been more decent if Bodejo was invited for dialogue rather than subjected to security intimidation, if indeed anyone felt threatened by his aspiration.
“As a citizen of the state, Bodejo has the right to contest or not contest. The decision to withdraw from the race should be personal. Besides, the consensus committee set up by the Taraba State APC never approached him for any meeting before resorting to security intimidation,” the campaign council alleged.
The campaign DG called on Bodejo’s supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while awaiting his possible release from EFCC custody.
