Metro
South West PDP Blames CP Mobayo for Violence, Killings During Ekiti East By-Election
*Ekiti CP Denies Policewoman’s Death, Warns Against Politicising Matters*
*INEC Voids Ekiti East By-election*
The South West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Mobayo, must be held responsible for the killing of a policewoman and two others during the House of Assembly bye-election in Ekiti East Local Government area of Ekiti State on Saturday.
In a statement by the Party’s Zonal Director of Media and Publicity, Lere Olayinka, the Police Commissioner was accused of shielding government thugs, even after credible evidence of their criminal acts were presented to him.
The party said it was sad that blood-letting always follow Fayemi’s footsteps whenever he is at the helm of affairs in Ekiti.
“During Fayemi’s first tenure, it was in this same Omuo Ekiti that Michael Ipinlaye and Kehinde Fajuyi were killed by his (Fayemi) thugs while Foluso Ogundare was killed in Akure Ekiti and Ayo Murphy Jeje and Juliana Adewumi were killed in Erijiyan Ekiti.
“Also, during the 2019 local government elections in which only APC contested, one person was killed in Ikere Ekiti,” Olayinka said.
Continuing, the PDP spokesperson said: “Sad that just because of a House of Assembly bye-election, a policewoman was killed in Omuo Ekiti today, by thugs unleashed on the people by the APC government of Dr Kayode Fayemi.
“May be the Police Commissioner in Ekiti State, Mobayo Babatunde will act now that one of his officers was killed in Omuo Ekiti today, by Fayemi’s thugs.
“When the thugs sent to assassinate me and Dayo Akinleye invaded GNN Hotel in Ado Ekiti on October 24, 2020, and CCTV footages were made available to the police, nothing was done.
“Today, the thugs have killed a policewoman and two other people.
“Let’s see what Ekiti State Police Commissioner will do this time around.
“And most importantly, let’s see if CP Mobayo will stop being complicit in government sponsored attacks in Ekiti State by arresting those killers led by Dele Omojola (Marshall) who invaded GNN Hotel in Ado Ekiti and attempted to kill myself and Hon Dayo Akinleye on October 24, 2020.
“As for us in the South-West PDP, the blood of that police woman and the two other people killed in Omuo Ekiti today, will be on the head of CP Mobayo because he refused to act decisively when he should.”
In his response, CP Mobayo denied the allegations, warning that no one should draw the Ekiti Police into politics. He added that the Command swung into action on getting wind of the violence, stressing that some ‘key suspects’ have already been arrested, and investigations have commenced.
“It should be noted that the police Command in Ekiti swung into action immediately the incident was reported and arrests were made of key suspects. Investigations have since commenced and all culprits shall be charged to court accordingly. The Command therefore warns against dragging the Nigeria Police, especially *CP TUNDE MOBAYO,* into politics, while also stating that the allegation, which is aimed at misleading and misinforming the good minds of the citizens, should be disregarded,” a statement signed by the Command’s PPRO, ASP Abutu Sunday said.
The Command also said that the policewoman is not dead, but in critical condition receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has suspended the Ekiti East By-election over the bloody violence.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Tella Adeniran, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti, said the commission suspended the poll following the violence unleashed on voters and officials of the electoral body by political thugs.
Adeniran explained that the election was peaceful until arm-wielding hoodlums stormed two polling units of ward 009 unit 008 and 009 and started shooting sporadically.
This development, the INEC boss, said led to the death of three voters while a police officer, Corps member and one of its staff sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful across Nigeria and around the world on the occasion of Eid, urging them to continue embracing the virtues of peace, sacrifice, love, and unity that the season symbolizes.
In a statement issued by the management of Adron Homes & Properties, the company described Eid as a sacred period that promotes spiritual renewal, compassion, gratitude, and harmonious coexistence among people irrespective of tribe, religion, or social status.
The foremost real estate company noted that the values of selflessness, obedience, and generosity demonstrated during the holy season remain essential ingredients for national growth and societal development.
According to the statement, Nigerians should use the festive period as an opportunity to strengthen bonds of brotherhood, extend love to the less privileged, and pray for enduring peace and economic prosperity in the country.
Adron Homes further reaffirmed its commitment to providing affordable luxury homes and building sustainable communities that promote comfort, security, and family values for Nigerians at home and abroad.
The company prayed for divine blessings, joy, and fulfillment for all Muslim faithful celebrating Eid and wished them a peaceful and memorable celebration.
Metro
Ikorodu Security: CP Tijani Launches ‘Command Sweepers Squad’, Deploys Three LSSTF Refurbished APCs
In swift response to the recent security concerns emerging out of Ikorodu and its environs over the nefarious activities of some criminal elements that are tormenting places such as Ijede, Ginti, among others, the Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani personally led a major show of Force across different part of Ikorodu to assert the dominance of the Police and other security agencies to thwart any crimes in the areas. This show of Force was also accompanied by the Inauguration of a special tactical security outfit codenamed ‘Command Sweepers’ Squad,’ which is a temporary intervention security outfit created to address the growing incidents of crimes and criminality within Ikorodu and adjoining areas, comprising of Command Tactical Teams, RRS, Lagos Taskforce, Eko Strike Force, 2 PMF, 22 PMF, and 63 PMF of the Lagos Police Command, alongside personnel from other sister security agencies and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), all working collaboratively to combat and stamped out criminality within Ikorodu and its environs. The Squad has been strategically deployed to identify black spots and criminal hideouts to carry out intelligence-led operations, raids, stop-and-search duties, and confidence-building patrols aimed at flushing out criminal elements and ensuring the safety of lives and property.
Top among the security equipment deployed for the show of force and the temporary Inaugurated ‘Command Sweepers’ Squad’ are the three (3) newly refurbished Armoured Personnel Carriers which were just handed over to the Lagos State Police Command by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF as well as Patrol vehicles.
While Inaugurating the ‘Command Sweepers’ Squad’, the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani assured residents that the operation will be conducted professionally and in line with the rule of law, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant. He warned all criminally minded persons in Ikorodu and its environs to immediately pack their bags because his Command will not hesitate to decisively deal with them. Noting that the Command wasn’t resting on its oars, he revealed that the Squad will continue to patrol all nooks and corners in its bid to flush out all crimes and vices from the area.
Tijani assured law-abiding residents to continue supporting the Command with timely and credible information, through any of the emergency lines: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870, and 09168630929.
He noted that this valuable information will enable the Police to effectively tackle crime and restore public confidence within the area. He also thanked the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr Ayo Ogunsan for the logistics support including the 3 APCs which have enjoyed immediate deployment.
The Squad is strategically situated in Ijede to ensure swift deployment and easy access to all parts of Ikorodu and adjoining communities for effective crime prevention and rapid response operations.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to set aside the judgment that voided the timelines it issued for the 2027 general elections.
The Commission also applied for the stay of execution of the judgment, pending the determination of its appeal.
In the notice of appeal dated May 25, which INEC filed through its team of lawyers led by Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, the Commission nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Aside from its contention that the high court erred in law when it failed to determine a jurisdictional issue it raised, INEC maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
It argued that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant.
More so, INEC insisted that the high court erred in law when it held that: “It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
INEC argued that the verdict of the trial court was against the weight of evidence placed before it by the parties.
Consequently, it prayed the appellate court for an order allowing the appeal and setting aside the judgment
The electoral body further urged the Court of Appeal to strike out YP’s case on the ground that it lacked the locus standi (legal right) to institute and maintain the action it said was merely academic.
