Sporadic gunshots, as security operatives engage PDP protesters in Ogun
By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta
There were sporadic gunshots on Tuesday as security operatives engaged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during a protest at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Hundreds of members of the PDP, led by their governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu had stormed INEC office to submit a petition, demanding the re-run elections at polling units where elections were cancelled on Saturday.
The protesters, who were chanting anti INEC songs were armed with placards with 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”, “INEC should stop being biased” and “Ogun election was inconclusive, INEC correct yourself”, among others.
But, the protesters were denied access into the INEC office by heavily armed security operatives.
The security operatives, comprising military personnel, policemen and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) shot sporadically into the air to disperse the protesters.
Addressing journalists at the entrance of the INEC office, Adebutu insisted that, they would not leave until officials of the electoral commission attend to them.
Adebutu said, the party had submitted several protest letters to the commission demanding the review of the results of the election and re-run where elections were either cancelled or disrupted.
He said, it was regrettable that, security agencies were being used against the wish of the people, warning that the development could degenerate into another #Endsars protest.
Adebutu said: “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 run up, similarly, Kebbi has run up, why is Ogun State being denied run up? 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 allow us access, they are shooting sporadically in the air in the hope of scaring us away and we are not going to be scared Bea sue 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 right.
“We are entitled to run ups by all the rules that govern this election, we must exercise and protest to INEC that Ogun State deserves run up, allow us admittance to see the authorities concern.”
