The voice is heard saying, “The government will bring down any building or business of any person that attends any NDC meeting in his hotel.”
He also claimed that the government owned the land on which the hotel was built.
“We (the government) own the land and we would show it soon,” the speaker said.
When asked whether the statement amounted to a threat from the government, the voice allegedly responded, “Yes, it's a threat from the government and me.”
The allegation against the Esan West council chairman has raised fresh concerns among political stakeholders in Edo State about the treatment of opposition groups and their supporters ahead of future political activities.
Attempts to obtain comments from the council chairman, Ebhodaghe, were unsuccessful. He did not respond to messages seeking clarification, while calls to his phone were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
The allegation comes amid wider concerns over disruptions to NDC activities in some parts of the country.
Sahara Reporters recently reported that the NDC identified eight of its members who it said sustained gunshot injuries during an alleged attack on its monthly ward meeting in Obuofia, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday afternoon at Ihuani Awkunanaw in Obuofia, the ancestral home of the Awkunanaw people and hometown of the NDC governorship candidate in the state, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa.
In a statement issued by Ohaa’s Media Aid, Hon. Sampson Ukwu, the campaign said NDC members had gathered for the party’s statewide monthly ward meeting when armed hoodlums allegedly invaded the venue and opened fire.
“The following 8 persons sustained gunshot injuries,” the statement said before listing the alleged victims.
The party also alleged that canopies, chairs and other political materials were vandalized and destroyed during the attack.
“This is a clear act of political thuggery and an attempt to intimidate members of the opposition through violence,” the statement said.
The NDC further alleged that the incident was part of a pattern of disruptions targeting its political activities in Nkanu West, claiming that similar incidents had previously occurred in Akpugo and Obe wards.
