About 10 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday sustained series of injuries as security agents disrupted a rally organised by a faction of the party in the northern senatorial district of the state.
The victims, who were mainly women, were said to have sustained injuries following alleged sporadic shooting by the security personnels deployed to the town to disperse the crowd already gathered at Oke Mapo hall in Owo.
PDP in the state had been factionalised into old and new members since the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from Labour Party (LP) to the party.
It was learnt that the rally was organised by old PDP candidates from the northern senatorial district, which comprises of six local government areas, Owo, Akoko North West, Akoko North East, Akoko South West, Akoko South East and Ose.
One of the conveners of the rally, Mr. Femi Adekanmbi alleged that he was placed on house arrest by the security agents on the day of the rally.
Although, the INEC had pasted Mimiko’s candidates’ list, the old PDP candidates had always maintained that they were the authentic candidates since the court had ruled in their favour.
Speaking at a Press Conference, held in Akure, the State capital, the old PDP northern senatorial candidate, Dr. Olu Agunloye said the rally was organised to restore back the confidence the people in the district had in the party since several leaders of the party had defected to the opposition party.
He alleged that Mimiko was the brain behind the disruption of the rally, as he claimed that he was told by one of the security agents that they had been directed by the governor not to allow the rally to hold.
Agunloye, who showed journalists pictures and video of how the rally was disrupted noted that rather than PDP becoming a mega party in the state following the defection of Mimiko, the party had been losing its prominent members to opposition on daily basis, particularly those from the northern senatorial district.
He said, “our intention was to canvass for votes for our Party’s Presidential Candidate, Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates of our party since most of the leaders in party from our areas have been defecting to the opposition.
“We the authentic candidates, who have PDP membership cards met and resolved to hold a rally in Owo.
“We mobilised members from the six local government areas and they arrived the venue around 10 a.m but about 140 policemen and 25 soldiers dispatched to stop the rally manned all the entrances to the ancient town and also at the venue. Immediately they discovered that we are about to start the rally, they started shooting sporadically to disperse the crowd; at that process, 10 people were injured and they are presently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
“Already, they had place one of us, Femi Adekanmbi on house arrest and immediately they sighted me at the venue, the leader of the police team said I should follow him to Adekanmbi’s house so that we can discuss about the rally; but I told him I would have to come with the ward delegates.
“They later released Adekanmbi when they thought that they have dispersed the crowd. But when the people saw Adekanmbi coming towards the venue, they trooped out again and at that time, they have determined to confront the security agents”. Adekanmbi condemned the action of the security agents, maintaining that they had no legal right to stop rallies during elections’ period if the INEC had lifted ban on campaigns.
He said “it is unfortunate that the governor could stop a rally purposely planned to canvass for votes for President Jonathan and other candidates of the party. I think by now the PDP national leaders must be careful with Mimiko because we don’t know who he is really working for”.
But, the State Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke described the rally as illegal, adding that the conveners of the rally failed to secure security permit before holding the rally.
Eke said “we have held series of stakeholders’ meetings on this coming election and I believe all the parties have been told on the procedure to follow before holding a rally so that police can provide security for them.
“In this case, these people did not inform the police and they were not giving go ahead with the rally”.
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