Opposition claims intimidation after Nigerian candidate held

AFP

31 March 2011

Opposition claims intimidation after Nigerian candidate held

ABUJA — A Nigerian opposition party alleged pre-vote intimidation on Thursday after one of its candidates for governor charged with treason was granted bail but re-arrested immediately afterward.

John James Akpanudoedehe, an opposition candidate for governor in Akwa Ibom state in the Niger Delta region, was charged with treason last week over clashes that killed four and left a campaign office for the president burnt.

A judge in the capital Abuja granted him bail on Thursday, but police re-arrested him immediately afterward and intended to transport him back to Akwa Ibom state for prosecution.

A police spokesman said he would now face charges of murder and arson in the state since the offences occurred there. He could not say why he was charged with treason in Abuja.