More than 70 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with a history of advocating for credible elections in Nigeria spanning over two decades have jointly called upon the Inspector-General of Police and the Governor of Kogi State to take immediate action…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
in ensuring that politicians who are inciting violence through their provocative statements and engaging in political thuggery, resulting in loss of lives and property, are held accountable under the law.
The CSOs specifically urged the Inspector-General of Police to issue a “wanted” notice for the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Muritala Ajaka, if he persists in ignoring police summonses for investigations into acts of political violence within the state.
They noted that Ajaka is often seen in the company of “suspected armed thugs” and undermines the security efforts of the Police and other law enforcement agencies, as outlined in a recent statement by the Kogi State Police Command.
To highlight their concerns, the Coalition for Credible Elections in Nigeria (CCE), Kogi State Young Professionals, and other concerned civic organizations organized a peaceful march in Abuja on Saturday. They also submitted a petition titled “PETITION FOR A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN KOGI STATE AND THE ROLE OF SDP GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE, MR MURTALA YAKUBU AJAKA” to the Inspector-General of Police.
During the march, participants held placards with messages such as “Immediate Arrest of Anyone Ignoring Police Summons,” “Arrest and Prosecute Khadijat’s Killers Now,” “Governor Bello, Do Not Tolerate Promoters of Violence,” “We Demand Peaceful Elections in Kogi State,” and “IGP Must Declare Ajaka Wanted Now,” among others.
Addressing the media on behalf of the coalition during the march, Comrade Israel Abiodun, the Coordinator of the Coalition for Credible Elections, emphasized that the primary focus of the Peace Walk and their petition to the Inspector-General of Police was the escalating political violence allegedly orchestrated by certain politicians leading up to the governorship election scheduled for November 11 in Kogi State. He was joined by Barrister Jeff Uwaifo, Hajia Aisha Ibrahim, and Comrade Fatimah Qudus.
