A civil society organization, Centre for Social and Economic Rights (CSER) has called for the immediate arrest and interrogation of the Lagos State Labour Party gubernatorial candidate Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour over a viral video in which he alleged complicity of INEC and the police for acts of voters’ suppression and intimidation which is a violation of the Electoral Act and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a press statement issued on Sunday by its executive director Nelson Ekujumi, the group “Condemned in the strongest terms, the reckless, irresponsible, insensitive, provocative and threat to national security comments of Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour in a viral video in which he alleged INEC and the Nigeria police force of electoral violation, and we are demanding that he be arrested and interrogated to substantiate his allegations, failure which he should be arraigned in court for an act that threatens public peace, law and order.
“By his viral video recorded from within his party situation room, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour has maligned the image and integrity of INEC and the Nigeria police force and brought them to public opprobrium both locally and internationally. Therefore, “CSER is demanding that the law takes its course against this act if investigated and proven to be false because it constitutes an assault not only on the two national institutions which mirror the culture and values of the Nigerian people but the sensibility of Nigerians collectively.”
CSER added, “We are disturbed and traumatized by Mr. Gbadebo’s verbal threat of violence against the people of Lagos for the crime of exercising their franchise in line with their constitutional rights, but which sadly has not gone down well with him and he is attempting to scapegoat INEC and the Nigeria police force for the people performing their civic duty.”
“CSER worries about the threat of Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour which should not be taken lightly due to his antecedents which can be gleaned from his Twitter handle and other social media platforms in which his active participation in the 2020 EndSARS insurrection of looting and destruction of public and private properties, killing of innocent civilians and policemen, attack of custodial institutions, burning down police stations, formations, setting free detained suspects and carting away of arms and ammunition as well as acts of cannibalism exhibited by the anarchists, among several other inhuman and criminal acts, is still fresh in our memory and hurts badly.”
The group reminded the police and the Nigerian people of the threat constituted to society and humanity by Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, in view of his affiliation and public support for the terrorist group IPOB/ESN which has been ranked as the 10th deadliest terrorist group in the world.
The group stated, “In view of what Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour has become synonymous with and represents which is not in doubt, he is first and foremost an indisputable supporter and instigator of a breakdown of law and order which is condemnable and unacceptable, and he must be made to face the law.
“Therefore, CSER is demanding immediate arrest and interrogation for the prosecution of Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour for his continuous acts and comments which threatens our national security, democracy, and humanity.”
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