Segun Oni, a former governor of Ekiti State, has joined others to condemn the violence and killings that characterised the Ekiti East Constituency 1 bye-election in the State held on Saturday.
Oni said he had suspended all political activities for seven days in solidarity with those who lost their lives in the incident.
The former governor, in a message in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, described the development as a slap on the nation’s democratic system.
According to Oni, “the official inauguration of the Ijero Local Government Campaign House, which was already scheduled, is hereby suspended to honour the dead.”
He explained that the incident was disheartening and wondered why innocent souls could be taken away in an election conducted for less than 25,000 electorates.
The ex-governor called for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the senseless violence and killing.
He also urged the families of the victims of the electoral violence to embrace peace for normalcy to return to the communities.
Oni stressed the need for members of the PDP to remain calm in the face of provocation, assuring that the party would achieve its desired victory in the bye-election and future elections in the state.
Recall that three people were killed and many others injured on Saturday when violence erupted during the election in Omuo-Ekiti.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also announced the suspension of the bye-election following the bloody attacks.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Dr Tella Adeniran, announced the suspension in Ekiti and also confirmed that three persons were shot dead during the exercise.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti had earlier condemned the killing and called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the act.
The constituency seat became vacant following the death of its representative, Mr Adegbuyi Oluwajuwa.
