BY TORDUE SALEM

ABUJA-THE House of Representatives yesterday demanded a presidential reversal of a directive barring some political parties from holding political rallies in state capitals.

The House in adopting the motion sponsored by Rep. Halims Agoda (PDP/Delta State),urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr Hafiz Ringim, and Minister of Interior, Emmanuel Iheanacho, to clarify the issue on behalf of government in order to bring the matter to an end.

Ebonyi, Niger and Benue State governments reportedly barred some opposition political parties from holding their presidential and governorship rallies in the state capital.

States like Adamawa were even reported to have gone further to destroy the posters of opposition parties.
But the Green Chamber in the motion, asked state governments “to exercise restraints and tolerate the utterances and rallies organised in their States by political parties.”

It  implored the citizens, political elites and all stakeholders to exercise restraints, and tolerate opposing views, as well as guard against all acts that could threaten the survival of the country’s democracy.
Defending his motion, Mr. Agoda said it was regrettable that the same government making efforts to solve the security puzzle in the country would condone actions that would jeopardise its efforts.

The debate, however, took a wild turn and was subsequently shelved, when reference was made to an earlier incident in Katsina where the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, governorship candidate, Garba Lado, was arrested and incarcerated over allegations of inciting violence.