THE Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the state government’s takeover of the prosecution of the three suspects arrested in connection with the violence which marred the Ekiti East Constituency 1 bye-election on Saturday.

The Bisi Kolawole led- PDP State Working Committee said, “It will not be appropriate for an All Progressives Congress government to handle the prosecution of the case when all the suspects are well known thugs who were in the company of prominent APC leaders and government functionaries in Omuo Ekiti on the fateful Saturday.”

This was contained in a statement titled, ‘Ekiti Assembly bye-election killings: Ekiti PDP demands justice’ signed by the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Raphael Adeyanju.

It read in part, “We will not tolerate any form of political interference during the prosecution of the suspects.”

The state Director of Public Prosecution, Julius Ajibade, had, on Monday, announced that the state had taken over the prosecution, arguing that the constitution empowered the state to take over any criminal matter at any stage before the judgment was pronounced.

However, the PDP said, “We are happy that the police have apprehended some suspects in connection with the murderous attack. We are ready to work with the police and appropriate authorities to ensure they don’t go unpunished. Ekiti people know the party that sent them.

“What happened on Saturday is a signal to what to expect in subsequent elections. The APC is populated by violent individuals that don’t believe in free and fair elections.

“Our party members are, however, enjoined to remain resolute so that we can wrestle power from them. They can no longer impose themselves on the people that have totally rejected them.”

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