Following the signing of the Peace Accord among 17 political parties in Kwara state on Thursday, 17th January 2019, in Ilorin the Labour Party candidate, Comrade Issa Aremu mni has reaffirmed the commitment of the Party for peaceful electoral process in Kwara State. Comrade Aremu while commending the state INEC Resident Representative, Mallam Garba Attahiru Madami for the initiative on the peace accord, however decried what he described as “a deliberate calculated partisan attempt at ganging the opposition” by the state governor in a broadcast that reportedly banned street campaigns and processions.
Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed of Kwara on Monday reportedly banned political street rallies and processions across the state following reported attacks on citizens by political thugs allegedly linked to the ruling PDP and opposition APC.
The LP candidate who observed that the party’s campaigns had been “peaceful and issues driven” devoid of violence said only INEC could issue guidelines on electioneering not a state governor whose party, he observed “was also in contest”. According to him it was undemocratic to limit campaigns on the eve of an open election adding that INEC has commendably opened up the democratic space until February 28th adding that it was “illegal for the freedom of all contestants to be tramped upon for whatever reason”.
The Labour Party candidate suggested that the state governor should partner with the state police command, state Security Services ( SSS) and INEC to ensure free and fair elections. He advised that the state governor as a state chief security officer should ensure secured campaigns through preventive measures as opposed to what he called “panicky ban measures after avoidable clashes and violence”. Comrade Aremu observed that terror challenged North eastern states such as Bornu state had not put any blanket restrictions on campaigns and wondered while a state of harmony which Kwara state was reputed should prove an exception. Comrade Aremu also urged all political parties to emulate the peaceful and organized approach of the LP so as not undermine the electoral process as well give excuse for what he called “anti-democratic forces” to undermine the forthcoming elections.
