Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has approved the immediate suspension of one of his aides, Dayo Ibijowo, following his arrest over alleged involvement in armed thuggery.
The suspension was announced in a statement issued on Friday in Ado-Ekiti by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode.
According to the statement, Ibijowo was among 11 suspected armed thugs arrested on Thursday in Ikun-Ekiti by operatives of the Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS).
The police alleged that the suspects were recruited by a serving member of the House of Representatives to disrupt the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election scheduled for Saturday.
Oyebode stated that the suspended aide would remain out of office pending the outcome of investigations being conducted by the police.
He explained that the action taken by the governor reflected the administration’s firm stance against criminality, political violence and other activities capable of threatening public peace and security.
According to him, the state government remains committed to ensuring a peaceful political atmosphere before, during and after the election period.
The governor’s spokesman also recalled that Oyebanji, during his recent tour of the 16 local government areas of the state, appealed to politicians and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly throughout the electioneering process.
He warned that the government would not tolerate any act of lawlessness, violence or political intimidation capable of disrupting peace in the state.
The statement reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to upholding law and order and ensuring that anyone found culpable in acts of violence would face the full weight of the law.
