Category: Election

The weekly constituency meeting of Action Congress of the Nigeria (ACN) in Akoko Southwest Constituency 1 in Ondo State was yesterday disrupted by suspected Labour Party (LP) hoodlums.

The meeting, which held at Ward 7 in Iwaro, was reportedly halted when the thugs struck.The suspected thugs were said to have been led by a top government functionary from the local government. During the attack, the home of ACN State Assistant Treasurer, where the party leaders were being hosted, after the meeting, was vandalised and his shop destroyed.

Guns and other weapons were said to have been used to disperse ACN members.The Nation learnt that five ACN members, who were injured, are in critical condition at hospitals. Among them are the party’s Local Government Youth Leader and a chairmanship aspirant, Mr Dele Balogun (aka Best Time). His ribs were reportedly broken. So also was Gbenga Omole.

It was learnt that the incident was reported at the Oka Police Station.There had been a series of attacks on ACN members in the state by suspected LP thugs.The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) of the Ondo ACN yesterday alerted the public and security agents to alleged acts of terror the ruling Labour Party (LP) has unleashed on the opposition, especially the ACN and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement in Akure, the state capital, its spokesman, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, said yesterday’s attack on ACN members was at the party’s weekly constituency meeting in Iwaro Ward 7 in Akoko Southwest.
The attack was allegedly supervised by a top official of the LP.
Both officials are said to hail from Akoko.The attack was allegedly led by a notorious LP thug in the area.
The home of ACN Assistant Treasurer, where the meeting was held by the leaders and members, was vandalised, and the Treasurer’s shop destroyed.The statement said the Youth Leader in Akoko Southwest was injured and property worth thousands of naira belonging to Murphy Adamolekun, who was said to be the main target of the attack, was destroyed.
It added:

“Guns, machetes and other weapons were freely used by the LP thugs to chase away the defenceless ACN members. Various degrees of injury were sustained by our teeming members who were holding a legitimate peaceful meeting. Many of them are in critical condition in various hospitals in the area. Dele Balogun, a chairmanship aspirant, had broken ribs.

“It is also a notorious fact that the LP thugs have also been unleashing a high level of fury on members of the PDP. Recently, the LP thugs attacked PDP members during their ward congresses. “ACO is using this opportunity to appeal to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to be alive to their responsibilities of protecting the residents, irrespective of their political ideology.

“ACN is a peaceful political party. The parry won elections in all the states in the Southwest, including Edo, without violence. We intend to repeat such in Ondo State. But security agents must protect the people to avoid self-help, which could lead to chaos and the breakdown of law and order.”

the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, yesterday promised to complete major projects the past administration of the party started but were abandoned by the ruling Labour Party (LP) administration, if elected in the October 20 election.

The former Legal Adviser of the party said such projects include the Olokola Free Trade Zone, a deep seaport in the coastal area, an industrial park, sericulture and apiary farms, Adagbakuja town, Akure Modern Stadium and the reticulation of Owena Dam.

Oke explained that because the projects would solve unemployment challenges, it has becomes necessary for any government that desires the well-being of the people to complete them.

Scores of Akoko youths, under the aegis of Akoko Youth Alliance (AYA), at Ikare Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government Area, have backed the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

The youths were from the four local government areas in Akoko Division.
They unanimously promised to support Akeredolu with legitimate means to win next month’s election.
AYA Coordinator, Mr Banji Adewunmi, berated the ruling Labour Party (LP) administration for not providing jobs for youths.

He challenged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to announce the number of graduates he has employed in the last three and a half years.

Adewunmi said: “We are supporting Akeredolu because the youths will be the first major beneficiaries of an ACN administration. This is because we have keyed into his promise of providing 30,000 jobs in his first 100 days in office. We believe him and we know he will deliver on his promise because he is a man of integrity.”

The group’s Secretary, Mr Aleriwa Shina, said the Ondo North rally is held every fortnight.
The Deputy Director-General (North) of Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO), Mr Stephen Olemija, hailed the youths for supporting ACN and its candidate.

He urged them not to deviate from the goal they have set, adding that they should ensure Akeredolu’s victory in the October 20 poll. The wife of the ACN standard bearer, Mrs Joy Akeredolu, attended the event.
The rally became a carnival of sort when campaign souvenirs, including branded T-shirt, fez caps, key holders and others were inaugurated.

Others at the event were ACN Northern Senatorial Chairman, Chief Idris Elemeje; the state’s Organising Secretary, Rahman Daudu; ACN Chairman in Akoko North-East, Deacon Ishola Moshood; Mr Omole Gbenga and Alhaji Bakare, who represented the former ACN governorship aspirant, Chief Segun Abraham.