Nigerian governor candidate arrested over riot

AP

31 March 2011

Nigerian governor candidate arrested over riot

LAGOS, Nigeria – An opposition candidate for governor in Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta was arrested Thursday on a murder charge after defending himself in court against treason allegations, a worrying sign ahead of the nation's coming elections.

Paramilitary police officers stormed a federal court in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, to arrest John James Akpan Udoedehe, a gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom state. They briefly scuffled with Udoedehe's supporters before taking the candidate away, presumably for an initial court hearing in the Niger Delta state.

Udoedehe is the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, competing against the ruling People's Democratic Party candidate in the oil-producing state. Federal police spokesman Olusola Amore said the arrest came after a riot between supporters of the two parties in the state that left four people dead and more than 200 cars torched.

Udoedehe's lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong, blamed the arrest on political interference. He warned it would only aggravate tensions in the state.