Nigeria mogul backing fmr dictator’s election bid claims kidnap threat from president’s group

Nigerian media mogul reports election threat

ABUJA, Nigeria — A Nigerian media mogul says his family has received kidnap threats over his support for a former military dictator in country’s the upcoming election.

Raymond Dokpesi, the owner of the Africa Independent Television network, told reporters Saturday that his family received threats Friday night that his son would be kidnapped.

Dokpesi said the threats were “definitely masterminded and supported actively by President Goodluck Jonathan groups.”

Dokpesi is a campaign chairman for former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida’s presidential bid. Jonathan has yet to say whether he will run in the Jan. 22 presidential election.

In a statement Saturday night, Jonathan’s office called Dokpesi’s claims “lies.”