Osun election: Police throw tear gas at Secondus, Saraki, others during Abuja protest

• Aregbesola Knocks Protesters, As Ganduje Presents Governor-Elect To Buhari
The Nigerian Police, yesterday, threw tear gas at top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who staged a peaceful protest against the alleged roles of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police in the Osun State governorship election last month.The protest took place almost at the time President Muhammadu Buhari was receiving Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Election Campaign in the state, and Governor of Kano State, Umar Ganduje, who were at the Presidential Villa to present the party’s candidate in the election and governor-elect, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, to the President and also thank him for his support in the election.

Led by the National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, the protesters, including presidential aspirants, embarked on a peaceful, but dramatic protest to the headquarters of the INEC and Police, demanding the immediate declaration of the party’s candidate, Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, as winner of the election.They had successfully concluded the protest to the INEC headquarters and began to march towards the Police headquarters when trouble started.

Specifically, the protesters got to the front gate of the Police headquarters and were about moving in when suddenly, the atmosphere became laden with a thick smoke and gunshots fired by the policemen.As many scampered to safety, Secondus and party leaders mobilised members to the Area 11 Junction, about one kilometre away, to address the crowd of protesters.Personalities who partook in the protest include Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), as well as former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido and Senator Dino Melaye.

Earlier at the INEC headquarters, Secondus had said: “The country is sleeping on a keg of gun-powder, you know it. If you feel that Nigerians are not aware of the activities of INEC and the Police, you are deceiving yourselves. You are pushing Nigerians to the wall and when you push them to the wall, there would be resistance. We hope we will not get there, but this will serve as a notice.

“Therefore, we demand that INEC Chairman should resign. Amina Zakariyau should resign. She is the manipulator of all elections. Let me address Mr. President Muhammad Buhari, you cannot continue to give instructions to security agents to carry out your agenda, instead of protecting Nigerians. “The hunger in the land is too much; the corruption in the country is too much. You are not fighting corruption; you are fighting your perceived enemies and you are fighting the masses. Nigerians have left you. You cannot change the will of the people by force.