All Progressives Congress has raised the alarm over alleged plot by the Presidency and the Police to slam trumped-up charges against its leaders in Ekiti State.
In a statement by the State Director of Media and Publicity, Segun Dipe, the party said there were strong indications that “a special squad of top police officers from Abuja had arrived Ekiti to put APC leaders out of circulation ahead of the June 21 governorship election in the state.”
APC said the move was an outcome of a meeting held at the Ekute, Ado-Ekiti home of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (name witheld).
The allegation followed the June 8 brawl between the Police and the APC supporters in Ado-Ekiti which led to the death of one Taiwo Akinola.
The statement said, “As a prelude, the Commissioner for Integration and Inter-governmental Affairs, 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.
“Top on the list of those to be arrested on false charges as stumbled upon include the interim Chairman of APC, Jide Awe; and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Yemi Adaramodu.”
Others listed are 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.
APC said PDP had also listed 12 persons for arrest from Irepodun/Ifelodun, the local government of the PDP governorship candidate, Ayo Fayose.
The party gave the list to include a member of the House of Assembly, Olurotimi Odu; Oladipupo Ige and former Deputy Speaker, Taiwo Olatunbosun, all from Igbemo-Ekiti; Col Babatunde Oluwayose and Kayode Akinyemi from Afao-Ekiti, Fayose’s home town; Peter Adekunle (Mayegun) and Ojo Olanipekun (Siron) from Are-Ekiti while Kayode Ojo, Femi Aluko and Tayo Egunlusi from Iworoko-Ekiti are also on the list. Caroline Egunlusi and Thomas Ajewole from Eyio/Esure are to be seized few hours to the election.
But when contacted, the Ekiti Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Babayemi, said the allegation is “spurious and unfounded.”
“The allegation of keeping some people out of circulation being leveled against the police is one of many calculated attempts of politicians to gag the police and prevent it from performing its statutory duty and undermine the commendable work of its personnel all in the name of politics.
“However, criminals bent on causing trouble in the state will be hunt down and brought to justice no matter the status or political affiliation,” he added.
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