The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has hailed the International Criminal Court for its readiness to try politicians who perpetrate violence in the forthcoming elections.

According to the party, this will check violent politicians in power against impunity and violent attacks on the opposition.

The party said there was more than enough evidence of attacks on APC members in the state by the “People’s Democratic Party thugs sponsored by the state government.”

The state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement on Thursday called on victims of political violence to furnish the ICC with details of attacks on them.

“By this declaration of the ICC, we hereby serve notice to the court that we have more than enough evidence of attacks on our members by agents of government lodged in Adesua Lodge of the Government House who have been helping the government to attack opponents.

“It is good that the ICC has now realised that constriction in political freedom through violence by powerful politicians against the opposition is another form of crime against humanity.

“Part of the right to human existence is political choice without intimidation and violence. By this, tyrants and politicians with zero tolerance for the opposition will know that their days of reckless attacks on the opposition are gone.”

Olatunbosun asked the ICC prosecutor in Nigeria, Fatou Bensouda, to highlight the processes of reporting violent politicians to the international court.

“It is good that the ICC has acknowledged that crimes under the purview of the ICC had already been perpetrated in Nigeria, Ekiti State being the most notorious. We thank the ICC for sending its team to Nigeria. Victims of executive lawlessness can begin to compile the list of violent acts against them for onward transmission to the ICC.

“We encourage victims of political violence to take advantage of the latest development to have sanity in our political process.”

The Special Assistant to Governor Ayodele Fayose on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the government was not afraid of the invitation.

He said, “We welcome the invitation of the ICC to Ekiti State. We will welcome the intervention of anyone who will ensure justice.

“It would be an opportunity to look into all the murder cases committed in the state since October 16, 2010 under the watch of Dr. Kayode Fayemi as governor.”