The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lamented the illegal arrest of its members and supporters while they were queuing to vote in Saturday’s Edo state governorship election.

The PDP national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, demanded their release while alleging in a statement that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was colluding with compromised security operatives to rig the polls.

Mr Ologunagba said the ruling party in the state “demands for the immediate and unconditional release of voters including PDP members and supporters who were illegally arrested by @OfficialAPCNg – compromised security operatives while peacefully queuing to vote in the ongoing Governorship election in Edo State.”

The PDP said the arrest “is part of APC coordinated plot in connivance with certain compromised Police officials to harass, intimidate and suppress the people of Edo state having realised that it has lost the poll.”

“A particular case in point is the Gestapo-style abduction of a voter by APC-controlled gunmen at Uromi Ward 8, Unit 3, while on the queue to cast his vote. This cowardly act further confirms that the APC is panicky and has already given up in the face of imminent defeat at the election.”

He noted that the PDP had on several occasions alerted of the scheme by the APC to subvert the electoral process by terrorising voters upon the realisation that its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, is sailing to victory, with the overwhelming support and solidarity of voters in the state.

He told the APC and the officers that Edo people won’t be cowed to surrender to aggression or terror, adding that the main opposition party has been rejected by the people and nothing will change their resolve.