#Ekitigate: APC Asks IG To Prosecute Fayose, Indicted Officers, Others

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, to prosecute Governor Ayodele Fayose, former Ekiti State Mopol Commander, Gabriel Selekere; AIG Bala Nasarawa who oversaw the conduct of Saturday, June 21, 2014, election and several other officers named as participants in the alleged criminal manipulation of electoral process that returned Fayose to the office.

The party said its petition followed a leak of a secret audio recording by an Army Officer, Captain Sagir Koli, of the 32nd Artillery Brigade in Ekiti State two days to the election.

According to a petition by the State Chairman of the party, Olajide Awe, entitled (1) “Criminal Complaint Conspiracy, Bribery, Threats and Use of Military to Perpetuate Electoral Fraud Against the People of Ekiti State; (2) investigation of the role of the Nigerian Police Force in the Ekiti State Gubernatorial Elections June 21, 2014,” the party brought Arase’s attention to the content of the audio tape detailing criminal acts planned by those mentioned or whose voices were captured in the tape.

The party noted on February 8, 2015, the audio recording capturing the voices of Fayose, Commander of 32 Artillery Brigade, Bri-Gen. Aliyu Momoh; Senator Iyiola Omisore, Police Affairs Minister, Jelili Adesiyan; Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro and others, at a meeting where they conspired and strategized to rig the June 21 governorship election was released to the public.

Awe said: “The import of this audio recording is the revelations of criminal acts, which were planned and perpetrated by these men.

“The above listed persons conspired to tamper with the constitutionally and statutorily laid down procedure for the conduct of election.

“Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that; ‘The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution’.”

He said during the meeting, strategies and plans to intimidate voters and perform electoral fraud, and other criminal acts in a bid to take over the Government of Ekiti State in a manner contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and other relevant statutes were discussed.

Specifically noting the constitutional infractions in the election fraud, Awe listed;

• the use of the military to assist in electoral manipulation contrary to the purpose of the military as provided for by the Constitution;

• use of stickers for the identification of persons not to be harassed or detained by the military;

• Ayo Fayose admitting to copying voting materials provided by INEC;

•reprimanding of military personnel for detaining members of the People’s Democratic Part who were engaged in electoral fraud and malpractices; and,

•Musiliu Obanikoro, who was Minister of State for Defence at that time, clearly stating that he was under instructions from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also offered bribes and promises of promotion to the military personnel if the plans discussed were carried out.

Awe quoted Obanikoro in the tape as saying; “Look here, you can’t get promotion without me sitting on top of your Military Council. If I am a happy man tomorrow night, the sky is your limit.”

In the audio tape that went viral was also Fayose’s voice talking about collation of results at Efon-Alaaye on June 19, 2014, two days before the actual election in contention.

APC also requested Arase to investigate the roles of the police in the poll fraud with specific investigation of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Bala Nasarawa, who headed the police contingents that supervised the election.

Also to be investigated is Ekiti Mopol Commander at the time, Gabriel Selekere, for his unprofessional conduct bordering on alleged dishonesty and violations of the code of ethics of the Nigerian Police Force.

It would be recalled that prior to the election, APC severally petitioned former IG Suleiman Abba over incessant police harassment of its members and leaders, including assault on former Governor Kayode Fayemi by police officers led by Mopol Commander, Gabriel Selekere, who reportedly threatened to “waste” the Governor during campaign but these were ignored.

Praying Arase to institute probe and punish offenders to act as deterrent to enhance the image of police as an institution committed to Nigeria’s democratic consolidation, the party also asked the police chief to investigate and bring to justice all the persons involved for conspiracy, treason and use of undue influence and breaching of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and Criminal Code.