#EdoDecides2020: Ekweremadu Decries ‘Harrassment’ Of Opposition, Urges Security Agencies To Be Patriotic

Former deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has condemned the alleged harassment of the opposition at the ongoing Edo governorship election by security agencies, describing it as unprofessional and undemocratic.

Ekweremadu’s statement is coming moments after the Rivers State Governor( of People’s Democratic Party) Nyesom Wike had claimed on Friday that his hotel was surrounded by security agencies.

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On his part, the former Deputy Senate President on Saturday urged security forces to put national interest above political interest.

“Security agencies must eschew partisanship, knowing it is both in their own and the nation’s best and larger interest to preserve and grow our democracy.

“Therefore, the harassment and intimidation of opposition today and at any other time should have no place in our democracy,” he stated.

But the state commissioner of police, Johnson Kokumo had denied the claim, claiming that there was restriction of movement in place and everyone, including governors, must comply with it.

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Ekweremadu also urged the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission to be transparent and objective throughout the electoral processes.

Meanwhile, he added that Edo residents should troop out and vote their choice candidate.

“As #EdoDecides, history beckons on #INEC to restore the sagging faith of Nigerians in the transparency, freeness, fairness, and peacefulness of our elections. #Edo2020 mustn’t only be free and fair, but must also be seen by all to be so.

“By so doing, @inecnigeria will be justifying the enormous resources appropriated to it by @nassnigeria and the far reaching electoral reforms, which I was privileged to be a part of, to secure financial and administrative autonomy for it and to free it from political control.

“Importantly, I call on #Edo people to come out en masse to vote & ensure a violence-free environment. If you vote, you’re entitled to your vote counting; if you don’t, then your vote will CERTAINLY not count. I’m also on ground with other compatriots to monitor the election,” he tweeted on Saturday.

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