The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, was grilled by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over an alleged petition against him on Saturday.
Earlier, The Meridian Spy had reported that the DSS had invited Ododo over the petition by some members of the opposition party in the state.
Spokesperson to Kogi State Government, Kingsley Fanwo, confirmed Ododo’s invitation by the secret police.
Fanwo, who accompanied the APC governorship candidate to the DSS office, did not reveal the allegations in the petition.
However, he said the allegations were “frivolous and unfounded” and that Ododo had honoured the invitation by the DSS “to respect a constituted authority.”
Fanwo added that Ododo was “grilled by a team of operatives at the DSS for hours,” but that he gave “convincing explanations to the interrogators.”
Ododo is one of the major candidates in the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State
He was subsequently freed by the DSS operatives.
The full statement reads:
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, today, honoured the invitation of the DSS to answer questions regarding a petition against him by some members of the opposition.
He was invited by the DSS and as a law abiding citizen who is aspiring to lead the state, he honoured the invitation.
The allegations contained in the petition are frivolous and unfounded, but it was incumbent on the APC Governorship Candidate to respect a constituted authority such as the DSS.
Alh. Ododo was drilled by a team of Operatives at the DSS for hours and he gave convincing explanations to the interrogators.
We commend the professionalism of the DSS and pledge our cooperation to whatever measures taken or that would be taken to ensure a peaceful Kogi and a peaceful poll in November 2023.
We assure supporters of the APC GOVERNORSHIP candidate that he has since left the DSS Office to continue his consultations with Kogites ahead of the Guber poll. Our commitment to peace and tranquility is iron cast. Every Kogite and every supporter of Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo should endeavour to be peaceful in all their activities towards the election.
KFF
Saturday July 29, 2023
