The All Progressives Congress has accused the police of selective enforcement of its ban on holding rallies at airports.
A statement issued by the party's Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, criticised the pollice for allowing the Peoples Democratic Party to violate the ban on February 1, when members of the ruling party turned out in large numbers at the Bauchi Airport to welcome the new PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.
The statement said: “The questions to ask are: Is the ban not applicable to the PDP? If it is applicable to it, what has the police done to sanction the party since it breached the order over two weeks ago? If the police will allow the PDP to get away with such lawlessness, can the same police sanction any other party or individual who breaches their order banning rallies at airports?”
“This does not augur well for the image of the police and it sends a wrong signal about whether the police can be neutral and professional before, during and after the 2015 elections. It also raises doubt about the ability of the police to effectively carry out its constitutional duty of ensuring the protection of lives and property.
“The police ridicules themselves and wear down their own authority when they pander to the PDP, whereas the force is being maintained by tax payers, whether or not they belong to the ruling party.
“The police, more than perhaps any other government agency, should know that no one, no matter how highly placed, is above the law, and that lawful orders from the police are not for selective enforcement.”
The APC urged the police to sanction the PDP for flouting the ban, or immediately lift the ban on rallies at the airports, in order for the police to prove it's credibility and non-partisan approach as it ensures a level-playing field for all parties in the up-coming general elections.f
No comments:
Post a Comment