US Group Accuses Ekiti Police Commissioner of Bias

A United States of America (USA) based group, Justice For All Nations (JFAN) has accused the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Ekiti State, Mr Sotonye Wakama of bias, calling on the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar to call the CP to order "before he foists a regime of anarchy on the State."

In a release issued in New York today, JFAN Coordinator, Dr. Dada Popoola said it was questionable for the same Ekiti State Police Command that did not see anything wrong in the political rallies held in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital by the State Government to now come out to say the launching of a group, Ekiti Bibiire Coalition contravened Section 99 of the Electoral Act 2011 (as amended), which stipulated that campaign rallies could only take place 90 days to any election.

The group, which also decried the arrest and prosecution of supporters of the Ekiti Bibiire Coalition, said the Ekiti State Police Command should rather tell Nigerians how many of the thugs, who blocked major roads in Ado-Ekiti and were seen brandishing guns, cutlasses, knives, and other dangerous weapons were arrested and charged to court?

"It has become necessary that we call the attention of Nigerians to the activities of the police in Ekiti State, which negate all tenets of democracy.

"Two of our members were in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, September 19, 2013 and saw what happened.

"They saw how drivers union members blocked all majors roads in the town and how they were moving around, brandishing dangerous weapons.

"So, how many of these hoodlums were arrested by the police?

"Again, we are aware that many supporters of the Ekiti Bibiire Coalition were arrested on their ways to Ado-Ekiti and one should then ask at what point did the launching began to contravene Section 99 of the Electoral Act?

"Is Ekiti Bibiire Coalition a political party and was there display of any item campaigning for political office during the launching?

"It is our position that the Ekiti State Police Command should stop being bias against perceived opponents of the State Government because the police is to protect all Nigerians not those in government alone," Popoola said.