Gunmen yesterday kidnapped the Bayelsa State chairman of the Change Advocacy Party (CAP), Mr. Deme Ikolomo, at his residence in Yenagoa, the state capital.
LEADERSHIP WEEKEND gathered that Ikolomo was abducted in the early hours of yesterday by the gunmen who invaded his home. His whereabouts has remained unknown as no group has claimed responsibility for his abduction.
While the sudden abduction of the CAP Party Chairman occurred amidst exchange of banter between the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and CAP, over the involvement of former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, in the legal battle against Governor Seriake Dickson on his victory at the last governorship poll.
The 41-year-old, party chairman was reported to have accused the sacked governor of sponsoring the legal team of the CAP governorship flag bearer against Dickson; a claim the campaign director of the Kubor governorship team, Koku Garigha denied.
A close aide to the CAP governorship candidate, Comrade Jeremiah Owoupele, confirmed the kidnap of the party chairman to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND.
But when contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, said he was yet to receive any report on the kidnap incident. He said, “It is only a rumour because they have not lodged any official complaint in any police station in the state.”
The campaign organisation of the governorship flag bearer of the CAP in a statement issued yesterday and signed by the campaign director, Chief Koku Garigha, described the claim by the abducted party chairman on the involvement of the former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, in the sponsorship of the legal battle of the party against the PDP as ‘fictitious’.