Ekiti bye-election violence: Governor Fayemi confirms arrest of suspects

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has confirmed the arrest of suspected perpetrators of the violence that led to the death of two people in Omuo-Ekiti during Saturday’s Ekiti East Constituency 1 House of Assembly bye-election.

The Governor stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the palace of Olomuo of Omuo Ekiti, Oba Noah Omonigbehin in Omuo-Ekiti on Sunday.

Fayemi was accompanied by Commissioner of Police Tunde Mobayo and other leadership of security agencies in the state.

Speaking at the Palace of Olomuo, Oba Noah Omonigbeyin, Fayemi prayed against the reoccurrence of the gory incident in the state, saying his government would not tolerate violence and other manifestations of brigandage capable of stoking ember of hatred.

Fayemi noted that the suspects arrested in connection with the killings during the bye-election would be dealt with to serve as deterrence to other political thugs.

He said the perpetrators would be taken to court on Monday and charged appropriately.

“As the chief security officer of our state, I have been briefed that the suspected perpetrators of the violence have been arrested. They would be taken to court on Monday and charged appropriately. The peace of our land is not negotiable.

 “As I have consistently maintained, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. Political leaders must moderate the excesses of supporters, and not condone any criminal elements in our midst.

 “Ekiti is ours to build together. Despite our diverse party affiliations, we must work together to protect and defend the sanctity of the electoral process and secure lives and property during elections. This is a bi-partisan imperative that we must achieve together.”

The Governor who visited the crime scenes also paid a condolence visit to the families of the deceased. He also visited some of the injured at the Methodist Hospital in Omuo-Ekiti and the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti (FETHI).

Governor Fayemi promised that the government would settle the medical bills of those in the hospital and lend some help to the families of the deceased to cushion their pains.

Governor Fayemi said before the election, he had been engaging Senator Olujimi and other major stakeholders in the community on the peaceful conduct of the bye-election and the progress of the constituency.

Today, I visited affected persons and families in Omuo-Ekiti following the mayhem that occurred during the botched Ekiti East Constituency 1 bye-election on Saturday. I also visited the palace of Olomuo of Omuo Ekiti as well as stakeholders in the opposition party. pic.twitter.com/aWd7nY0jfH

— Kayode Fayemi (@kfayemi) March 21, 2021