Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on Nigerian security agencies to stop further assault on Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and offer him the protection he rightfully deserves as the democratically-elected governor of the state.

Jonathan stated this on Wednesday while responding to reports of the alleged blockage of the Ekiti State Government House and reported assault on Governor Fayose by  armed policemen.

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan appealed to the security agencies deployed to the state for Saturday’s gubernatorial election to carry out their duties according to the laws of the land by securing the state in a manner that would enable a peaceful electoral process.

“If it is true that the state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose was assaulted as reported in the media, my appeal is that such should not be allowed to happen again since the governor’s constitutional immunity guarantees that he should be given official protection to freely conduct the business of governing the state,” the statement read.

Fayose and his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola had on Wednesday accused men of the Nigeria Police of manhandling them in a bid to prevent the holding of a planned rally of the Peoples Democratic Party  at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti. The governor made a public appearance wearing a collar around his neck claiming that he was assaulted and manhandled by policemen who even threatened to shoot him. He was eventually taken back to hospital in an ambulance.