Many journalists including, Daily Trust’s correspondent, were barred from covering the All Progressives Congress (APC) state congress election at the University of Benin Sport Complex on Saturday.
Delegates from the 21 local government of the state gathered at the complex to elect the state executive of the party.
The journalists were turned back at the entrance of the stadium.
Even when the journalists showed their identity cards, officials of the Directorate of State Security Service manning the gate stopped them, saying they were acting on instruction.
“You can’t enter the venue, we don’t need office identity cards. If you want to enter the venue, you have to show your accreditation card. Sorry, it is not our fault, we are acting under instruction, called the officials,” one of the security operatives said.
Meanwhile, a delegate from Etsako West local government Make Afaliokhai said, the congress election went peacefully.
He said the state executive were elected through affirmation by all the delegates.
He said Francis Inegbeneki who was contesting the chairmanship position stepped down for Col. David Imuse (rtd), who was elected state chairman of the party.
