Buhari saves PDP from setback at election, as IGP’s invitation of candidate suspended till after election
*PDP knocks Police, APC over invitation
*No time is better to deal with alleged criminal – Respondents
*By Kemi Kasumu
President Muhammadu Buhari may have helped opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from major political calamity as he ordered the stoppage police invitation of its governorship candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, over election malpractice related offences.
But this yet another magnanimity of the President towards opposition, despite their continuous expressed lack of trust in him, the PDP would have faced serious challenges as, our investigation revealed revealed, there was no way a man being arraigned in court for on allegations of criminal offences would stand in a credible election.
The last time this happened was Anambra governorship election period when he ordered the police to restore the security of candidate of APGA and governor of the state.
Many Nigerians who reacted to this latest display of leadership by the President described it as a clear departure from do-or-die style of past administrations in the country.
A source from the Presidency who pleaded anonymity confirmed this development to journalists on Wednesday.
According to the source, Buhari ordered that Adeleke should not be invited until after Saturday’s election.
The Police had earlier invited Senator Adeleke to appear at its headquarters to answer questions bordering on allegations of Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Personation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting against him.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, had in a statement summoned Adeleke and four others namely; Mr. Sikiru Adeleke, Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr. Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr. Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja immediately for arraignment in court.
The Senator will on Saturday battle with Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Moshood Adeoti of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Although the offence he is about to be arraigned for is a criminal offence that is punishable by law if guilty, some politicians would have failed to consider the weight of it but call it persecution of opposition, The DEFENDER gathered.
President Buhari however saved the polity of the hues and cries the police action, considered as normal in certain quarters, would have ignited thereby causing aspersions against the credibility of the election process.
That was even as PDP knocked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for using the police to intimidate opposition.
The Buhari-led APC government has however been praised for its specifically noted exception from conduct of do-or-die elections going by successes recorded in past governorship, national and state assemblies elections and by-elections in parts of the country.
