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Special Report |
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Nigerian
News |
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EKITI ACN MEMBERS PROTEST OVER IMPOSITION OF
CANDIDATES
by Lere Olayinka
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He expressed surprise that the
Governor who was greatly assisted by members for over three years to
secure his stolen mandate could turn out to be the one who would be
using same position to take other people’s mandates. |
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Hundreds of aggrieved members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)
in Ekiti State today trooped to the streets in protest against the
State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi over alleged imposition of persons,
who did not win the recently conducted primaries election.
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The protesters, comprising men, women and youths who are members
of the party began their action as early as 9:30 am at the ever-busy
Okeyinmi round-about in Ado-Ekiti where they first assembled before
distributing themselves to all the four corners of the State capital.

They marched with several placards, carrying various inscriptions
through the major roads of Okesa to Fajuyi before they were halted at
the main entrance of the Governor’s office by armed Policemen, who
fire tear gas canisters into the air.
The protesters carried inscriptions such as “ACN democracy for
injustice”, “No to imposition of candidates by Governor Kayode
Fayemi”, “Let the peoples votes count in ACN”, Fayemi, beware of the
consequences of your action”; “ACN is known for practical democratic
norms, this latest action is undemocratic”; “Fayemi, allow ACN
leadership to announce our original results now or never”; “Fayemi
speak now, Imposition will affect our fortunes”; “Bisi Akande,
intervene before it is too late”, among others.

It should be recalled that Governor Fayemi had on several occasions
denied having a hand in the imposition saga through his Special
Adviser on Media, Alhaji Mojeed
Jamiu, but the action and language employed by the protesters did not
in any way show they ever believed the Governor’s explanation.
At about 11:00am, the protesters had already seized the dual carriage
way leading to the office of the Governor with placards and preventing
vehicles to move in or out.
The heavy presence of fully-armed men of the mobile policemen who were
later deployed to the scene could not deter the irate members who
refused to vacate the Governors entry
gate for about an hour.

Spokesman for the aggrieved members who doubles as Chairman, Integrity
Group of ACN in the State, Comrade Adedipe Isiaka said information at
their disposal had revealed that it was the Governor who imposed his
friends and cronies as favoured candidates, over and above those who
actually won in both Senatorial and Assembly
primaries.
He expressed surprise that the Governor who was greatly assisted by
members for over three years to secure his stolen mandate could turn
out to be the one who would be using same position to take other
people’s mandates.
Isiaka warned of the grave consequences of allowing such an illegality
to stand, saying there is no how either party members or electorates
would want to queue behind an unpopular candidate imposed on them
without their consent.
All efforts to get Chairman of the party in the State, Chief Jide Awe
or any of his officers to react to the development either on phone or
in office were unsuccessful as their whereabouts remained unknown.

Reacting to the protest, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, Chief Media Aide to
former Governor, Chief Segun Oni saud; "That the ACN demonstrated
against Fayemi is a testimony that
the judicial victory is not only a pyhric victory but a government
that cannot stand the test of time. "The totality of ACN is evil. It
was planted on falsehood, deceit, dictatorship, violence, and
disregard to due process worship of the devil.
"It is ominous and pointer to the fact that ACN is evil that is why
members of a party in
power will come out to demonstrate against its government the way the
ACN members have done today.
"It is even more worrisome that Fayemi could send policemen to tear
gas members of his own party!
"This strange situation never occurred when Chief Segun Oni was in the
saddle.
"ACN came on board through propaganda, forgery, deception,
crookedness, which characterized the conduct of the party primary and
the aftermath violence.
"However, something is clear; you can deceive people for sometime but
not all the time.
Lie has a short shelves’ span, truth reigns forever."
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