POLITICAL VIOLENCE: EBONYI CP READS RIOT ACT TO POLITICIANS

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Ebonyi State Police Command has warned candidates and political stakeholders to carry out their campaigns in line with the extant laws as it will henceforth arrest and prosecute anyone found breaching the peace and security of the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Aliyu Garba, handed down the warning during an emergency meeting with heads of security agencies, political party representatives and journalists.

The emergency meeting was convened by the Command following rising cases of politically motivated attacks, killings and alleged involvement of non state actors in the disruption of campaigns and political activities across the state.

A deadly attack on the APGA Governorship Candidate, Professor Bernard Odo’s convoy that left three dead, including a police officer, is a case in hand that shows that all is not well in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba, said the meeting was to brainstorm on how to achieve peaceful electoral process and stated the position of the law as it concerns denial of access to venue for rallies, use of abusive slogans, destruction of bill boards, biased media reportage and warned that the police would no longer fold their hands and watch the state slide into crisis.

The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, Mr. Stanley Okoroemegha, expressed worry over the rate at which the party’s campaign materials were being destroyed across the state and reminded party stakeholders and youths that “it’s God that gives power.”

The Director General of Labour Party Campaign Council in the State, Dr. George Ukpai, commended the Police for providing security to all parties but alleged that opposition political parties had been shut out from campaigning across the state by the agents of the state government.

Radio Nigeria observed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were among opposition parties that were not represented at the meeting.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU