Latest report from Ondo State informs that protesters have barricaded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Akure over removal of the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) from INEC list for next week’s governorship election in the state.
Many of the protesters, through their displayed banners, called for the postponement of next week’s guber poll in the state. They also expressed their frustrations on the delay tactics employed by the Biyi Poroye faction of the party in the State to frustrate proceedings in Court.
Below are photos taken at the scene of the protest:
See video:
Breaking! Another Protest erupts in Akure over removal of Eyitayo’s name from INEC list. Protesters barricade INEC office in Akure. pic.twitter.com/LmuICoFHSX
— OndoTelevision (@OndoTv) November 21, 2016
Meanwhile, Tuyi Adekanmi, President of the Akure Youth Association, told newsmen that the protests are taking place because the people are being deprived of the right to elect a candidate of their choice.
One of the protesters, Bayo Owolabi, re-echoed the call by the Ahmed Makarfi led faction of PDP for the postponement of the elections to allow the courts decide who the candidate of the party is.
A few weeks ago, INEC substituted Jegede’s name on its register of candidates of the parties with Ibrahim’s name further to an order given by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court.
Jegede’s attempts to appeal the matter at the Court of Appeal have been stalled by allegations of corruption and breach of oaths of office levelled against the two Appeal panels instituted by the President of the Court of Appeal to speedily determine the matter.
Last week, the second panel led by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa postponed delivery of judgment indefinitely after Biyi Poroye and others had filed a petition against the Justices alleging various acts of corruption and breach of oaths of office.
A motion was also filed at the Supreme Court seeking for stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal. All 3 judges were named as co-respondents in that motion.
