Opposition Party Call For Police Boss Resignation

Opposition party call for Police boss resignation
Qasim Akinreti,Lagos

One of the opposition parties in Nigeria, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has called for the resignation of the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, over alleged arrests and detention of his party members.

Addressing a world press conference in Lagos, Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande said that the police has shown bias in the prosecution of the party gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom State, South-south Nigeria, John Udoedeghe and detention of Taorid Faronbi, in Lagos, South-west Nigeria, by the state securities services.

Oposition prosecution

The police had arranged Mr. Udoedaghe of the ACN before an Abuja high court for treason over the destruction of government properties in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, by his party supporters.

After the court granted him bail on want of evidence to link him to treason and other charges, he was re-arrested by the police at the court premises.

ACN chairman alleged that the police are yet to also arrest and charged those who killed the party supporters in Ikot Ekpene, also in Akwa Ibom State.

The ACN leader equally listed cases of denial of use of public places for the opposition's campaign and the assistance of the police to effect the directive in some part of Nigeria to buttress his argument.

He said that muzzling the opposition and arbitrary arrest and prosecution of the party members would likely result in  a mass protests across the country by the party.

Chief Akande also used the opportunity to express the party's concern over the use of Army during the elections.

In his words, “using the Army for constabulary services is counterproductive and dangerous to democracy”.

Williams