By Ayodele Oni
The atmosphere at the High Court premises in Akure, Ondo State was charged, and tension high, as the Election Petition Tribunal commenced sitting over the petition filed by Mr Eyitayo Jegede, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in October Governorship election.
This was due to a clash between supporters of the PDP and ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), during which a driver to one of of Jegede’s Counsels was stabbed by suspected thugs of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW) allegedly working for the APC.
The State PDP Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement said Governor Rotimi Akeredolu ”mobilized large number of thugs to the venue of Ondo Gubernatorial Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
“At the hearing this morning, Tuesday, APC thugs under the leadership of one “Chemical” bombarded the venue, harassing, molesting, beating up, shooting sporadically into the air and attacking anyone perceived to be supporter of the PDP and its Candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN.
“Mr. Sunday Oladunmoye is still receiving treatment from machete cut wounds he sustained from this group of thugs. They were parading the vicinity of the Court in a tinted Toyota Corolla car. Others were members of the Taxi Unit of National Union of Road Transport Workers ((NURTW) with instructions from their master Jacob Adebo (Idajo) to cause pandemonium during the sitting.
“As early as 8.30a.m this morning, the Petitioners, Eyitayo Jegede and the PDP represented by its State Chairman, Alhaji Fatai Adams, led other PDP leaders to the Court. But shortly thereafter, the APC thugs caused so much panic and confusion within the arena. It took the combined efforts of the Army and Policemen to restore order.
“The PDP wishes to call on security agencies to live up to this fresh threat to law and order in the State. Resorting to violence will not deter the PDP and its candidate from pursuing this Petition to its conclusive end.
Neither can this act of barbarism scare the Judges from the course of Justice.”
However, the APC claimed that the allegation by the opposition PDP was unreasonable as neither the Governor nor the party has any cause to engage thugs.
A statement by Alex Jalejaye, APC Publicity Secretary, states that “contrary to the unreasonable desperation of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to smear the image of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, and its candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, the ruling party has no reason to mobilise thugs to the venue of the governorship tribunal, sitting in Akure.
“The APC in Ondo State parades unequalled disposition to peaceful conducts and approaches to issues, and therefore would not promote nor condone thuggery for whatever gains. “Like other stakeholders in the election petition tribunal, APC stalwarts, in their most decent and dignified manners arrived early today at the court, to listen to the proceedings.
“We learnt, with dismay avoidable rowdiness among people that were struggling to enter the court premises. To the best of our knowledge, the desperation gave room for clash.
“We are of the strong opinion that political parties and other stakeholders should caution their sympathisers against unruly display throughout the legal process, rather than holding APC responsible for such indecent and aggressive attitude.
“We wish to affirm our confidence in the tribunal to dispense justice, and would therefore have no reason to encourage violent disposition, under whatever guise.
“At the end of the legal exercise, the tribunal’s decision would be informed by convictions, based on facts, and not on account of thuggery and violent displays.”
