APC, PDP Disagree over Arrest, Prosecution of 183 Osun Indigenes in Imo

APC  

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State have disagreed on the arrest and prosecution of the 183 indigenes of the state in Imo State, who allegedly went there for the Anambra State governorship election.

The PDP in a statement by its state Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, said the people arrested were political thugs, who went to Anambra State with the aim of voting at the governorship poll.

Olaoluwa also urged Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to start a thorough investigation into the matter, just as he urged the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to ensure proper probe of the matter.

He  alleged that some of the people apprehended were aides of the state Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, and not election observers as they had claimed, stressing that the Federal Ministry of Justice should prevent the state Ministry of Justice from taking over the case.

According to him, the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has signified the intention of the state Ministry of Justice to take over the case, a situation which he said could lead to justice denial on the matter.

However, the APC in a statement by its spokesman yesterday, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said: “Why is the PDP crying more than the bereaved on the Anambra State matter? The matter is being laid before the court and the case is coming up for mention sometimes in February next year.”

He  contended that  “it has been said many times that the people who were arrested by the police in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on their way to Anambra State were observers who were duly accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the name of their organisation is on the list of observers released by the INEC.

“What law prevents anyone from witnessing election anywhere in Nigeria? Are people from this country and other places not travelling to United States to witness presidential election there, even when they are not observers?” He added.