The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has condemned the assault on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero last week in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The party also expressed concern over the nomination of some Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement at the weekend by its National Publicity Secretary, Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba, SDP demanded that the Police should offer “unreserved apologies to Comrade Ajaero, the Nigerian labour movement and the civil society in general”.
The statement read: “The Social Democratic Party, (SDP) recieved with great shock, the brutal assault on Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and also expresses deep concerns on the nomination as Resident Electoral Commissioners, by President Tinubu, of some persons who are confirmed politicians and members of political.parties.
“The SDP states that the Wednesday 1st November 2023 physical assault attack by the police on the national labour leader in Owerri, Imo State, in the course of discharging his mandate, is a manifestation of unacceptable regime of authoritarianism, supression of rights and clear invitation to anarchy. President Tinubu is therefore called upon, to swiftly order a thorough investigation of the ugly incident and give the Inspector General of Police a marching order to bring to book, all those officials involved in that ugly incident which was undeniably a national embarrassment.
“The party calls for high-level professionalism on the part of the Nigerian Police in dealing with and handling civil protests. It also demands that the Police High Command should offer unreserved apologies to Comrade Ajaero, the Nigerian labour movement and the civil society in general, for the brazen acts of intimidation and infringement of the fundamental right of Mr Ajaero, as well as the intimidation which the action of the Police constitute to all Nigerian workers whom he represents.
“President (Bola) Tinubu should be cognizant of the need to engender in practical terms, a positive image for his administration as a truly democratic government. He needs to prevent the good record of his past struggles for democracy and civill liberties from being eroded.
“The SDP also condems the nomination by the President, of card-carrying politicians into the nation’s electoral regilatory body (INEC) and the subsequent clearance that was expressly granted the nominees by the Senate. The two acts of brazen impunity create for the new administration, a bad image of a government that is repressive and one not committed to the protection of rights, rule.of law, electoral reforms and democratic consolidation.
“The SDP hereby calls.on President Tinubu to immediately commence the process of withdrawing the affected RECs in question. Failure to act and show that he is a responsive and responsible leader, particulalrly in the foregoing regard of the controversial appointments of some of the new RECs, will do great damage to his reputed democratic credentilas, and more importantly, constitute threat to the integrity of our electoral systems and quest for democratic consolidation”.
