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Ekiti - The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Ekiti State Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, for allegedly leading a physical assault on a judge.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said the in-coming premier must account for the "dastardly and barbaric attack, which represents an attack on justice and on the rule of law, and the violence that has gripped the state."
It said every time a judge had been attacked anywhere in the world, the attackers have been jailed to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to take the laws into their hands, adding:
'"The case of the thuggish Fayose should not be different,'' the APC statement read.
APC said the attack on Justice John Adeyeye came a few days after pro-Fayose and pro-People's Democratic Part "thugs" invaded a court room in the state state and beat up litigants, among others.
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''Even though Fayose has not assumed office, he has succeeded in taking Ekiti State back to Egypt within a few months of his 'election'. Not only are Judges being attacked, the kind of killings and chaos that characterized his first time in charge of the state have already started," APC stated.
APC said while Ekiti State Police Commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu, did well by rushing to the venue to help restore order after the judge had been beaten up on Thursday, the overall role of the police in the two attacks was "shameful."
''According to published reports which have yet to be refuted, police personnel stood by while litigants, lawyers and other citizens were being mauled by rabid PDP thugs in the first attack, and again seemed powerless as Justice Adeyeye was being manhandled and his suit torn until the Police Commissioner arrived at the scene," APC stated.
It argued such " an act of collusion" was an unacceptable gross incompetence for which those security agents must be brought to book.
''If the police are no longer willing and able to carry out their constitutional duties of protecting the lives and property of the citizenry, then anarchy looms,'' the party warned.
It said Nigerians must brace up for a "hellish time" in the hands of the PDP ahead of next year's general elections.
''During his recent trip to New York, President Jonathan assured the international community that next year's elections will be conducted in accordance with global best practices.
"Well, it is now clear that the President's assurances are not worth the paper on which they were written, going by the actions of his party members. Global best practices do not include beating up judges, lawyers and litigants!"
Comment could not be obtained from the ruling party ahead of publication.
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