CPPM condemns ‘illegal invasion’ of INEC Oshodi LG office by miscreants led by Prof. Pat Utomi

…demands prosecution

A civil society organization, the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) has condemned the “crude, reckless, irresponsible, provocative and illegal invasion” of the Oshodi Local Government Council Area Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State by a “bunch of miscreants of the Labour Party” led by Prof Pat Utomi.

This was contained in a statement by the organization’s Executive Director, Nelson Ekujumi.

“We were shocked and our collective sensibilities assaulted in watching on a national TV on the 2nd of February 2023, how Prof Pat Utomi and his bunch of Labour Party hoodlums invaded a national security zone as represented by the Oshodi LG office of INEC and addressed a press conference in the premises, whereby he condemned the collection of the PVC in the local government council area and made all sorts of accusations against the electoral body.

“It is not in doubt that Prof Pat Utomi as a member of the labour party has a right to air his views on any national issue, but he must do so in a civilized manner and at any location other than within a national security zone of the electoral umpire, his criminal invasion of the Oshodi local government council area office of INEC with his labour party hoodlums represents an assault on our democracy and constitutes a threat to national security which must be investigated and redressed to prevent a reoccurrence by other thuggery minded political party chieftains like himself,” Ekujumi said

The civil society organization warned that if this act of hooliganism is not condemned and necessary legal action taken against the miscreants, it might be a dress rehearsal of what to expect during the 2023 general elections from criminally minded political party chieftains, who are likely to mobilize thugs to disrupt the election process and undermine the nation’s democracy just to ventilate their grievances.

The group added: “We are however glad to note that the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC Mr. Olusegun Agbaje while condemning the hooliganism of Prof Pat Utomi and his political party thugs, has made it known publicly that this act of assault on our democracy has been reported to the appropriate security agencies for investigation and necessary action.

“The sanctity of our democratic process requires eternal vigilance and zero tolerance for any act of hooliganism such as exhibited by Prof Pat Utomi and his labour party thugs which is inappropriate, unacceptable and stands condemned in its entirety, so stated CPPM.”

CPPM in condemning this resort to thuggery invasion of a national security asset and desecration of our democracy by Prof Pat Utomi and his bunch of miscreants, is hereby calling on the Nigeria police force to immediately investigate and arraign Prof. Pat Utomi and his labour party hoodlums for conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace by the criminal invasion.