Kwara Senator, Rafiu Ibrahim Arrested Over Pre Election Violence

Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, representing Kwara South Constituency has been arrested ahead of Saturday’s elections over a pre-election violence.

Reports say Ibrahim was picked up for questioning and has been in police custody since Friday morning.

Hon. Muideen Abdulrahman, Chairman, PDP Kwara South Youth Forum, had earlier raised the alarm in a statement Thursday night about the reported arrest of the senator.

Abdulrahman said the action was a sign that the Police have decided to take sides against the opposition.

“The reason behind Senator Ibrahim’s arrest is currently unknown and reminiscent of last year’s arrest of Kwara PDP leaders in Kwara South constituency during the bye-election”, he noted.

“As at the time of this statement, Lola Ashiru, the candidate of the APC for the Kwara South Senatorial District, was holding a late-night rally, where he celebrated the arrest of Senator Ibrahim stating that the party had the “full support of the Government at the center.

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“We, the youths of Kwara South Constituency, hereby call on the international community, specifically, observers who have come to witness the February 23rd election, to take note of the partisan and irresponsible antics of the Nigeria Police Force.

“We also call on all well-meaning Nigerians to join us to call for the release of Distinguished Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, who is known as a peace-loving and highly-performing legislator who always puts the needs of his constituents first and foremost.

“Additionally, we call on the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, to cease and desist from utilising institutions of state from harassing leading political figures in our state.

“Elections are not do or die affair, hence, all candidates should be free to test their popularity at the polls without fear of intimidation by men of the Nigerian Police who are sworn to ‘serve and protect’ all citizens irrespective of their party affiliation,” he said.