March 22, (THEWILL) – Pandemonium erupted at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, when members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) protested the outcome of last Saturday’s election in the State.
The protesters, led by the governorship candidate of the party, Ladi Adebutu, stormed the INEC office at Magbon, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, to submit a petition requesting the Commission to have a re-run at polling units where elections were cancelled.
The protest sparked off a reaction from security operatives attached to the INEC office, which engage them in shooting sporadically into the air to scare the demonstrators, who were singing solidarity songs away.
Armed with placards in various inscriptions such as “INEC should save our democracy”, “INEC betrayed the people of Ogun”, “Electoral fraud will not stand”, INEC should respect people’s wish”, the protesters continue to chant anti-INEC songs, as they were denied access by security operatives into the electoral body’s office.
They, however, stood their ground despite shootings by the security operatives comprising Military personnel, Policemen and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), insisting they won’t leave until the Commission receives their petition.
Speaking with newsmen at the entrance of the INEC office, Adebutu maintained that they would not leave until officials of INEC attended to them.
Adebutu said that the party had tendered several protest letters to the electoral body for the review of the election, asking for a re-run where polls were either cancelled or disrupted.
He expressed regret that security agencies were being used against the wish of the people, warning that the development could degenerate into another #Endsars protest.
“We are here to protest, but unfortunately, we have been confronted by the Nigerian Army, shooting sporadically to the air, in the hope that they will disperse us, but we are resolute, we are going to stay here until we are addressed by officials of INEC.
“Our contention is that the measures by which other States have been treated and they are allowed to have venoms, Ogun State should be measured in the same vein.
“Adamawa has runup, similarly, Kebbi has runup, why is Ogun State being denied runup? We are not particular about whatever interest is guiding this, we are only asking for our rights.
“We have submitted several letters protesting this decision and we are asking that these gentlemen allow us access to INEC to submit an additional letter, but unfortunately, we don’t understand what is happening, rather than allowing us access, they are shooting sporadically in the air in the hope of scaring us away.
“We are not going to be scared because this is our fundamental human right; a democratic process. Please beg them, we don’t want another #Endsars, we don’t want another bloodshed in Ogun State, please beg them for us. It is our right that we should protest and exercise our rights.
“We are entitled to runups by all the rules that govern this election, we must exercise and protest to INEC that Ogun State deserves runups, allow us admittance to see the authorities’ concern,” the PDP Guber candidate added.
Photo: PDP Governorship Candidate, Ladi Adebutu, Engaging Security Operatives At INEC Office, Magbon, Abeokuta, Ogun State During The Protest.
