Ekiti bye-election: Fayemi govt can’t prosecute suspects belonging to the APC – PDP

The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the Kayode Fayemi led-state government’s takeover of the prosecution of the three suspects arrested in connection with the violence which marred the Ekiti East Constituency 1 bye-election on Saturday.

Newsflash Nigeria had earlier reported that a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, on Monday, had ordered the remand of the three suspects arrested in relation to last Saturday’s killings during the House of Assembly Constituency 1 by election in Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East local government of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those dragged before the court were Adenijo Olusola, 38, popularly called Solar; Paul Folorunso, 45, popularly known as Folly; and Adebayo Serifat, 40, a female, arrested for the alleged killings in Omuo Ekiti.

The three suspects were all member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The three, facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, murder and attempted murder, were ordered by the court to be remanded at the Federal Correctional Centre in Ado-Ekiti.

The Bisi Kolawole led- PDP State Working Committee said, “It will not be appropriate for an All Progressives Congress government to handle the prosecution of the case when all the suspects are well known thugs who were in the company of prominent APC leaders and government functionaries in Omuo Ekiti on the fateful Saturday.”

This was contained in a statement titled, ‘Ekiti Assembly bye-election killings: Ekiti PDP demands justice’ signed by the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Raphael Adeyanju.

It read in part, “We will not tolerate any form of political interference during the prosecution of the suspects.”

The state Director of Public Prosecution, Julius Ajibade, had, on Monday, announced that the state had taken over the prosecution, arguing that the constitution empowered the state to take over any criminal matter at any stage before the judgment was pronounced.

However, the PDP said, “We are happy that the police have apprehended some suspects in connection with the murderous attack. We are ready to work with the police and appropriate authorities to ensure they don’t go unpunished. Ekiti people know the party that sent them.

“What happened on Saturday is a signal to what to expect in subsequent elections. The APC is populated by violent individuals that don’t believe in free and fair elections.

“Our party members are, however, enjoined to remain resolute so that we can wrestle power from them. They can no longer impose themselves on the people that have totally rejected them.”

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