The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has called for a level playing ground and protection of all citizens’ rights ahead of the 2023 election in Nigeria.
Obi made the call in a personally signed statement on Tuesday in which he reacted to reported attacks and arrests of some of his supporters in parts of the country.
The former Anambra State Governor called on the government at the federal and state levels as well as the security agents to ensure the protection of the citizens and allow peaceful assemblies as enshrined in the constitution.
Specifically, the LP presidential candidate said the opposition must not be silenced using powers of the state as such actions would not guarantee free and fair elections.
The full statement reads: “elections are not deemed free and fair when a certain group employs the tool of intimidation to ensure that the opposition is silenced, both at the campaigns and at the polls.
“Peaceful assembly and unfettered electioneering campaigns are constitutionally guaranteed. Both and other ordered liberties cannot be breached wilfully by security agents.
“Recent reports of OBIdients being silently arrested by some security agents is extremely disturbing and condemnable. We must ensure that everyone is given a level playing field in the forthcoming elections, and that no eligible Nigerian, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation is disenfranchised, more so through violence and intimidation.
“I call on the Federal and State agencies to remind their operatives on the need to respect civil liberties.”
Flag Boy Narrates Attack Ordeal
A supporter of the presidential candidate of the Labour party, (LP) Peter Obi known by his social media username, @ObiFlagboy, has narrated how he was brutally attacked by thugs at the Oshodi area of Lagos State.
In the video sighted, the flag boy, who looks bruised and known for moving to various locations in Lagos to display the #ObiDatti flag, narrated how he was chased at Oshodi by thugs suspected to be loyal to other candidates, who assaulted him and his cameraman.
According to him, they went out as usual to display #ObiDatti flag, when hoodlums chased, assaulted and even poured fuel on them, with their phones smashed for doing nothing wrong.
He further explained that a uniformed man tried to intervene, but his pleas fell on deaf ears as the thugs continued to hit them with the iron rod used to support the flag.
This article was originally published on Naija News
