Ondo Election: Violent protest continues as police step in to calm situation [PHOTOS]

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Ondo Election: Violent protest continues as police step in to calm situation [PHOTOS]

The Ondo state Capital, has continued in violent protest following the replacement of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede SAN with Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 26 poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).


The protesters, who are mainly supporters of the embattled PDP candidate, Jegede have blocked major entrances to the state capital, thereby, causing heavy gridlock at Akure/Ikere-Ekiti road, Akure-Owo express road and Akure-Ilesha road.

Also, the aggrieved supporters have been engaged in burning tyres at Arakale, on the popular Oba-Adesida road.


Market, shops and banks have been shut following the protest.


It would be recalled that there had been controversy over the candidature of Ibrahim and Jegede who happened to have emerged from the two rival factions of the PDP.

Initially, the INEC announced Jegede’s name but yesterday changed it to Ibrahim due to an Abuja Court ruling which ruled in favour of the business mogul.

Meanwhile, the Police Command in Ondo has assured the residents of Akure of their safety from the ongoing violent protest.


The command’s spokesman, ASP Femi Joseph, told News Agency of Nigeria that the police were committed to the protection of the lives and property.

Joseph enjoined the people to keep calm as normalcy would soon be restored, adding that the command had dispatched officers and men to the scene of the protests on Oba Adesida Road.

“We are aware and our men are on their way to the scene, I will speak with you more later as the incident develops.

“We are trying to coordinate our men so that the incident will not escalate,” he said.