The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has hailed the International Criminal Court for its readiness to try politicians who perpetrate violence in the forthcoming general elections.
The ICC, with the headquarters in The Hague, had indicated that its scope of operation had been expanded to include trial of political leaders who unleash violence on the opponents.
According to APC, this will put in check violent politicians in power against impunity in the perpetuation of violent attacks on the opposition.
The Ekiti State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement on Thursday said this was a welcome development against the background of incessant violent attacks on APC members
by Peoples Democratic Party thugs sponsored by the state government.
by Peoples Democratic Party thugs sponsored by the state government.The party called on victims of political violence to furnish the international court with details of attacks on them since the beginning of the processes leading to the 2015 general elections.
“By this declaration by ICC, we hereby serve notice to the court that we have more than enough evidence of attacks on our members by agents of government lodged in Adesua Lodge of the Government House who have been helping the government to attack opponents,” Olatubosun said, adding: “It is good that ICC has now realised that constriction in political freedom through violence by powerful politicians against the opposition is another form of crime against humanity. Part of the right to human existence is political choice without intimidation and violence. By this, tyrants and politicians with zero tolerance for the opposition will know that their days of reckless attacks on the opposition are gone.”
by agents of government lodged in Adesua Lodge of the Government House who have been helping the government to attack opponents,” Olatubosun said, adding: “It is good that ICC has now realised that constriction in political freedom through violence by powerful politicians against the opposition is another form of crime against humanity. Part of the right to human existence is political choice without intimidation and violence. By this, tyrants and politicians with zero tolerance for the opposition will know that their days of reckless attacks on the opposition are gone.”Praising the ICC for invoking the Rome Statute of July 1, 2002 to assume jurisdiction over political violence committed in Nigeria, the APC spokesman asked the ICC prosecutor in Nigeria, Fatou Bensouda, to highlight the processes of reporting violent politicians to the international court.
, the APC spokesman asked the ICC prosecutor in Nigeria, Fatou Bensouda, to highlight the processes of reporting violent politicians to the international court.Olatunbosun said: “It is good that ICC has acknowledged that crimes under the purview of the ICC had already been perpetrated in Nigeria, Ekiti State being the most notorious.
, Ekiti State being the most notorious.“We thank ICC for sending its team to Nigeria.
.“Victims of executive lawlessness can begin to compile the list of violent acts against them for onward transmission to ICC.
“We encourage victims of political violence to take advantage of the latest development to have sanity in our political process.”
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
