PDP, CNPP Demand Immediate Release Of Arrested Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim

PDP Calls ON IG Mohammed Adamu To Release Senator Rafiu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has called for the release of arrested Kwara senator, Rafiu Ibrahim.

A statement by Muideen Abdulrahman, Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kwara South Youth Forum described his arrest a sign that the Police have decided to take sides against the opposition.

Recall that as earlier reported by Naija News, Sen. Ibrahim is currently in Police custody and is under interrogation. It is yet unclear when he will be released.

“The reason behind Senator Ibrahim’s arrest is currently unknown and reminiscent of last year’s arrest of Kwara PDP leaders in Kwara South constituency during the bye-election”, Abdulrahman noted.

“As at the time of this statement, Lola Ashiru, the candidate of the APC for the Kwara South Senatorial District, was holding a late-night rally, where he celebrated the arrest of Senator Ibrahim stating that the party had the “full support of the Government at the center.

“We, the youths of Kwara South Constituency, hereby call on the international community, specifically, observers who have come to witness the February 23rd election, to take note of the partisan and irresponsible antics of the Nigeria Police Force.

“We also call on all well-meaning Nigerians to join us to call for the release of Distinguished Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, who is known as a peace-loving and highly-performing legislator who always puts the needs of his constituents first and foremost.

“Additionally, we call on the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, to cease and desist from utilising institutions of state from harassing leading political figures in our state.

“Elections are not do or die affair, hence, all candidates should be free to test their popularity at the polls without fear of intimidation by men of the Nigerian Police who are sworn to ‘serve and protect’ all citizens irrespective of their party affiliation,” he said.

CNPP Uncovers Plan To Keep Senator Rafiu Ibrahim In Detention During Elections

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) also raising alarm over the arrest, further alleged that they have uncovered plans by the APC led government to detain Senator Ibrahim than necessary.

In a statement jointly signed by State Chairman, CNPP, Alhaji Adebayo A. Lawal and the State Secretary, CNPP, Prince Olufemi Adeleke,  and made available to Naija News.

It read:

“Barely 24 hours to the Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections, officers of the Nigerian Police Force, who were visibly acting on the orders of the presidency, forcefully arrested and detained Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, the senator representing Kwara South senatorial district, and the candidate of the PDP for the election.

“Up till this moment, Senator Rafiu, who is a major contender for Kwara South senatorial district election like our other candidates, is yet to be released.

“Similarly, in the past few days, more than twenty members of different opposition parties in the State have been indiscriminately arrested by security agencies and taken to unknown destinations up to the time of making this release.”

“This is a repeat of what happened during last year’s bye-election in Irepodun/Oke-Ero/Isin/Ekiti Federal Constituency, where top members of the PDP and opposition Parties were unlawfully arrested on the eve of the election.”

“We have received information that the high hierarchy of the Police has ordered that Senator Rafiu Ibrahim must not be released, which is a deliberate ploy to keep him out of circulation before and during the elections.”

“This is unacceptable, unlawful, undemocratic and a primitive show of power by a party that is well-known for abuse of power, federal institutions and flouting of court orders with impunity. The desperation of the APC to win elections at all costs portends great danger for our nascent democracy.”

“There is no feasible evidence to show that the detained Senator had any connection with Tuesday’s political attack in Ojoku, which happens to be his hometown. We are not saying the Security Agents should not do their jobs, but to chose the eve of the general elections to detain a strong contender is portraying the Security Agencies as being partisan to the clear advantage of the Candidate of the APC.”

“To assume that the lawmaker could have engineered violence against his own town and people is in the least untenable. Attempts to link him to the fracas are political and unfortunate.”

“A few weeks ago, when we raised the alarm over the planned crackdown on members of opposition parties in Kwara by the APC-led FG, some cohorts of the APC dismissed it as a false alarm. But we have been vindicated now as we all are now witnesses to what is going on in the State right now. We condemn the use of state security by the APC to harass and intimidate innocent opposition members all in the name of politics and desperate bid to scheme out other candidates in favour of the Candidates of the APC. This is a shameful display of state power. “

“We invite members of the fourth estate of the realm, local and international observers, civil society groups, well-meaning Nigerians and all lovers of democracy to rise in condemnation of this unlawful detention of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim and other opposition members and also demand for their immediate release.”

“We all have a duty to protect democracy and save the sanctity of our electoral process.We equally want to place on record that we are seriously concerned about the obvious partisanship of the security operatives now in Kwara for the elections. It is highly unfortunate that security men who are meant to be non-partisan as had been in the past here have now decided to take sides against opposition parties and do the bidding of the party in power. This is bad for our democracy.”

“That is why we are disappointed are of the conviction that the elections in Kwara will not be free, fair and credible,” CNPP submitted.