The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that its
\nGovernors are being prevented by security agencies apparently acting on
\n\u201dorders from above\u201d from travelling to Ado-Ekiti for the party\u2019s final
\ncampaign on Friday for the Ekiti State Governorship election on Friday.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday by its National Publicity
\nSecretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said at least three Governors \u2013
\nAdams Oshiomhole of Edo, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and Rabiu Kwankwanso of
\nKano \u2013 have so far been prevented from making the trip
\nIt said the helicopter that was to ferry Gov. Oshiomhole from Benin to
\nAdo-Ekiti was refused permission to take off from the Benin Airport, while
\nthe plane that was flying Gov. Kwankwanso to Akure was denied permission
\nto land.<\/p>\n
According to the APC, while the plane carrying Gov. Amaechi actually
\nlanded in Akure, his convoy was stopped at the border between Ondo and
\nEkiti States and ordered to turn back, because he would not be allowed to
\nreach Ado-Ekiti.<\/p>\n
The party said while Gov. Amaechi\u2019s convoy was being detained in order to
\nforce him to turn back, the convoys of the Ministers of Defence and Police
\nAffairs came and were allowed to pass.<\/p>\n
\u201dThese acts are illegal and definitely not in line with the Electoral Act,
\nwhich stipulates that campaign for the election will only end at midnight
\non Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201dIt also represents a manipulation of the electoral process when all the
\ncandidates will not be allowed a level playing field to campaign for the
\nelection. There is no clearer manifestation of the federal government\u2019s
\nallergy to free, fair, transparent and violence-free election than this,\u201d
\nthe party said.
\nIt condemned in the strongest terms the abuse of national institutions and
\nthe abuse of power which these actions represent, especially because only
\nthe Federal Government has control over these institutions, including the
\nsecurity agencies that have now become a
\ntool in the hands of an increasingly-desperate government of the day.<\/p>\n
\u201dSeveral months ago, we warned that Nigeria under the watch of President
\nGoodluck Jonathan was sliding into fascism and we were pilloried in
\ncertain quarters for daring to make such a statement.
\nToday, we have sadly been vindicated.<\/p>\n
\u201dNot even in the worst days of the abhorrent military dictatorship were
\nthings done this brazenly, with citizens being denied their fundamental
\nrights of free movement, free assembly and free expression, all because of
\nthe desperation by the ruling party to win elections at all costs.<\/p>\n
\u201dWe therefore call on all good people of Nigeria and indeed all the
\ncountry\u2019s international friends to speak out against what is happening
\nbefore things get out of hand. If democratically-elected Governors could
\nbe so shabbily treated, despite the high office they occupy, what will
\nhappen to ordinary Nigerians in the hands of an increasingly-fascist
\ngovernment?\u201d APC queried<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that its Governors are being prevented by security agencies apparently acting on \u201dorders from above\u201d from travelling to Ado-Ekiti for the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28142,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n