Ekiti APC alleges plan by Presidency to clampdown on its leaders

The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti state Saturday said it has uncovered plan by the Presidency to clampdown on some leaders of the party with trumped-up charges, in order to take them out of circulation ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
A statement by the Director of Publicity of the party, Mr Segun Dipe, alleged that a special squad of top police officers put together by the Presidency had arrived the state from Abuja to put APC leaders out of circulation.
According to Dipe, the move was an outcome of a meeting held at the Ekute, Ado-Ekiti home of a chieftain of the party (name withheld), and a member of the Security Committee of the Fayose Campaign Organisation.
Dipe added: “It follows last Sunday’s attack on Governor Kayode Fayemi and members of the APC, which led to the killing of an APC member, Taiwo Akinola, during a peaceful rally of the party in Ado-Ekiti.
“As a prelude, the Commissioner for Integration and Inter-governmental Affairs, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, a lawyer, was assaulted and whisked away to Abuja on a trumped-up charge of shooting Taiwo Akinola, while attempting to absolve the alleged culprit, OC Mopol Gabriel Selenkere.”
The APC’s statement listed top on the list of those to be arrested on false charges to include the interim Chairman of APC, Chief Jide Awe; and the Chief Of Staff to the Governor, Yemi Adaramodu.
Others, he said include Richard Apolola (Sikira)from Ekiti South-West Local Government, Hon Sunday Ibitoye, Niyi Adedipe, Tope Olanipekun (Tugere) and Rotimi Olambiwonu (Mentilo) from Ado Local Government; Otunba Femi Olanrewaju (Ijakoko) and Peter Oladosu (Erinmoje) from Ido/Osi Local Government and Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin from Gbonyin Local Government among others.
APC said it had all the while suspected that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would demonstrate such an undemocratic character to manipulate the electoral process following threats by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, that the June 21 governorship poll would be a war.
The APC had last Sunday, following alleged police attack on the governor’s convoy during a peaceful rally which also led to the shooting to death of Taiwo Akinola.
The governor had since protested the security breach to the Presidency and the Inspector General of Police for action.
The APC noted that the outrage generated by the police action was yet to abate, alleging that the PDP and the police authorities are in a grand plan to seize APC leaders in order to cow APC members in aid of PDP’s candidate in the governorship election.
The statement added: “APC also recently cried out over police complicity in the management of crises arising from campaign activities of the parties, citing several instances where the police looked the other way while PDP thugs were unleashing terror on APC members.
“This forced APC to react officially in a May 27, 2014 letter to the Assistant Inspector General Of Police (AIG) in Charge of Zone 8,Lokoja, Kogi-State, citing the inadequacies of the police to ensure a hitch-free governorship election
on June 21, 2014.”
When contacted the police dismissed the allegation and warned politicians not to drag it into politics.
The spokesman of the command, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said the police was doing their best to ensure adequate security before, during and after the election.