Security operatives, PDP protesters clash over election result in Ogun

There were sporadic gunshots as security operatives, yesterday, 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, Ladi Adebutu, had stormed INEC office to protest against declaration of Dapo Abiodun as winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The protesters were also at the INEC office to submit a petition to demand a re-run at polling units where elections were cancelled.

The aggrieved protesters were armed with placards with various inscriptions such as “INEC should save our democracy,” among others.

However, the protesters were denied entry into INEC office by security operatives.

The security operatives shot sporadically into the air to disperse the protesters.

Adebutu, while addressing journalists at the entrance of the commission’s office, said that the party had submitted several protest letters to the commission demanding review of Saturday’s election results 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.

He said: “We are here to protest, but unfortunately, we have been confronted by the Nigerian army shooting sporadically into 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 into INEC office 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.”