Report On Fayose’s Ordeal Misleading – Police

The Ekiti State Police Command has denied reports that some of its personnel attacked the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday.

The denial follows widespread report that the governor was manhandled by security officers deployed to the state ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

There were also pictures circulated of the incident which showed Fayose injured after tear gas was used on him and his supporters.

In its explanation, the police said that it prevented a rally called by the Fayose, from holding on Wednesday to forestall the outbreak of violence between the two leading political parties.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Caleb Okechukwu, in a statement he signed on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operations, Habila Joshak, said the public should discountenance the allegations that it attacked the governor and invaded his office.

The statement described the allegation as “misleading and aimed at causing anxiety in the minds of the public.”

“In furtherance to the presence of police officers around the Prof. Olusola Eleka Pavilion at Fajuyi today, two political parties intend to have their rallies at the same date and in Ado-Ekiti metropolis,” the statement said.

“But the Commissioner of Police advised the political parties in writing on the need to have their political activities at different time and because of its security implication.

“The police will, at all times, continue to maintain law and order and also rise up to their responsibility to perform their mandatory and statutory duty of protection of lives and property of innocent citizens before, during and after the election.

“The police would also want to use this medium to alert the general public that they should expect more of this misleading information from person(s) who do not mean well for the good people of Ekiti State.

“The police enjoin the general public to confirm the source of their information before circulating same to their friends or loved ones.”

PREMIUM TIMES however reports that the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Taiwo Olatunbosun, has denied knowledge of any plan by his party to use the pavilion on Wednesday for a rally.

“I am not aware of any planned rally,” he said. “Nothing of such has been brought to my notice.”