• It’s sponsored, uncalled for- Jimoh Ibrahim

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure and Wole Balogun, Ado-Ekiti

Akure, the Ondo State capital was yesterday thrown into pandemonium as people suspected to be members of the Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in violent demonstration to protest the recognition of Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as the governorship candidate of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Members of the PDP from the four Local Government Areas in Akure moved round the town with placards, even as they made bonfires on major roads in the town. Also, the protesters who were mainly youths barricaded major roads in the town, thereby causing traffic congestion in many parts of the city. While the protests went on, it was gathered that the loyalists of Ibrahim vacated their homes for fear of being attacked by the protesters.

The protesters also closed down major roads in the town including the popular Oyemekun, Oba Adesida and Adegbola roads, thereby preventing movement of people for better part of the day. The protesters had converged on Cathedral bus stop as early as 6.00am and started bonfires on the road at 6.30am when many residents were still indoors. From the Cathedral bus stop, the protesters moved to Isikan, Oja Oba and Adegbola areas of the town where they set fire on used tyres.

It however took the intervention of men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the State Police command before the protesters could be dispersed at 10.30am.

INEC had on Thursday night announced Mr Ibrahim as the authentic candidate of the PDP in the November 26 gubernatorial election in the state. The electoral body said its action was based on a court judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang of an Abuja Federal High Court on October 4, which directed it to recognise Ibrahim as the authentic candidate of the PDP.

Ibrahim’s rival, Mr Eyitayo Jegede who emerged the candidate of the party in the governorship primary election held in Akure had also appealed against the judgment, claiming that he was the authentic candidate of the party, having emerged at the primary election organised by the Makarfi faction of the party.

While Ibrahim belongs to the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party, Jegede belongs to the Makarfi’s faction, with both laying claim to the party’s candidacy before the INEC displayed the final list of candidates for the election on Thursday night.

Reacting to the development, the public relations officer (PPRO) for the state police command, Mr Femi Joseph said the police would do everything possible to ensure that peace reigns in the town and the state at large. He said the police were on top of the situation and would not relent on their efforts to ensure peace in all parts of the state before, during and after the election.

Meanwhile the State government has appealed for calm over the conflicting pronouncements that emanated from the courts and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade in a statement urged the people to be calm and not resort to self help over the matter. He said steps were being taken to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice, saying that the will of the people shall be respected.

He warned against destruction of lives and properties, stressing that “human blood is too precious to be sacrificed on the alter of politics and politicking. The peace and tranquility that the state is known for should be sustained.”

But the Jimoh Ibrahim Campaign Organization alleged that some politicians in the state were using hoodlums to destabilise the state in the name of politics, stressing that the crisis was unwarranted.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the organization, Mr Yemi Akintomide said Ibrahim was willing to welcome Jegede and his loyalists into his camp in the interest of the state, adding that “those who are behind the protest are well known to us but we are not ready to join issues with them. We will only advise them to embrace peace in the overall interest of our dear state.”

“We believe the Police are already working and we are sure that they are up to the task of ensuring peace in the state. We will not run away from them but we will not join them in the violence too. They are only crying wolf when actually there was none,” he stated.

However, the Makarfi faction of the party has insisted that Jegede remains the authentic candidate of the PDP in the state regardless of the court judgment and INEC’s decision.

Chairman of the faction, Mr Clement Faboyede who addressed a press conference said the faction has appealed against the judgment of Justice Abang, adding that the decision of INEC was unfair.

In a related development, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has condemned the decision of INEC to replace the name of Jegede with that of Ibrahim, describing it as “rigging in advance”

Fayose alleged further that the APC has decided to rig the Ondo State election even before it is conducted, adding that: “this is sad commentary for our democratic process that was near perfection before the advent of this APC government”.

“The question to ask INEC is; having accepted the candidate presented by the Malkarfi-led PDP National Caretaker Committee for the Edo State election, relying on the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt, despite the Abuja Federal High Court order at that time, what has changed? Obviously, it is either INEC is playing double-standard or has descended into the arena.”