Opposition political parties, including the Labour Party and the All Progressive Congress in Ekiti State, on Thursday advised the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, to bar Governor Ayodele Fayose from moving about on election days as was done to former Governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, during the June 21governorship election.
Labour Party’s candidate for Ado 1 State Constituency in the House of Assembly election, Femi Ajayi, and the APC’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Taiwo Olatubosun, said stopping Fayose on election days would ensure fairness and avoid intimidation by security agents guiding the governor.
The duo spoke at the political stakeholders meeting in Ado-Ekiti organised by the law enforcement agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Ajayi said: “The last time (2014), it wasn’t so.
“Mr. Governor (Kayode Fayemi) was not allowed to move.
“If the security agencies did not stop Mr. Governor (Ayodele Fayose) from moving
around, the tempo would change.
“When people get to office, they want to use their power to get what they want.
“Let the governor and cabinet members stay in their polling areas because we would not tolerate anybody who wants to use military or police to scare people.”
Olatunbosun lamented the crisis rocking the state, especially the state House of Assembly.
He said: “There is political hostility in the land.
“A situation whereby members of some institutions are members of a political party and are contestants and cannot move freely to campaign.
“We don’t want to resort to self-help.
“How do you help us?”
Reponding, Lakanu promised that Fayose would comply with the rule as dictated by INEC regarding movement on the day of elections.
He also directed political parties to “ensure that all branded political vehicles for rallies are properly registered” because “the Police Command would not allow unregistered vehicles to be used for campaign exercises.”
The CP said the meeting was called to interact and remind political parties of the existing laws guiding political campaigns and rallies.
He said: “Ekiti State Police Command is committed to providing a conducive and enabling environment by according all political parties and their aspirants a level playing ground that is devoid of any suspicion or rancour in the forthcoming general election.
“On this note, I am assuring you all that we shall do all that are lawful within our capacity to guarantee a free, fair, credible and acceptable election.
“Following the successful conduct of party primaries to select flag bearers of various political parties, we have been experiencing series of events in the political landscape.
“There have been various political scheming by the political parties and their aspirants all with intent to out play others.
“We have noticed altercations, vulgar abuses and innuendoes, which are also common during campaigns and rallies.
“In this regard, I want to enjoin every party member here present to please play the game in accordance with the provisions of the relevant acts.
“There cannot be meaningful development and well-being of the citizens in a situation where there is threat to security and those seeking elective positions are not expected to cause problem for the people they are aspiring to serve.
“Therefore, there is need to embrace peace in the conduct of our political activities.”
The Director of the Department of State Service in the state, Samuel Tamuno, urged politicians to play by the rule of the game.
Tamuno said: “If anything goes wrong, it would affect everybody.”
The state Comptroller of the Nigeria Prisons Service, Mustapha Attah, warned politicians against buying weapons for their supporters.
The Ekiti Sector Commander for Federal Road Safety Corps, Stanley Chinedum, urged campaigners to obey traffic rules during campaign.
“We all have the right to make use of the roads,” Chinedum said.
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