Ondo PDP, Security Agents Clash Over Anti-Akeredolu Protest

The members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, on Monday, clashed with armed security agents who stormed their secretariat following a planned protest against the continued absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in the state.
The clash resulted from the siege laid on the PDP secretariat along the popular Alagbaka Road in Akure by a combined team of security agents.
Over the weekend, PDP vowed to stage a protest in Akure against Mr Akeredolu’s continued stay in his Ibadan residence after his return from a three-month medical trip in Germany.
The Tide’s source observed that men of the Nigeria Police Force, the State Security Service, and the Civil Defence Corps cordoned off the opposition party’s secretariat with their vehicles in the early hours of Monday.
It was gathered that the action of the stern-looking and fully armed security agents was to prevent the opposition party members from carrying out the planned protest.
The security agents had also prevented journalists from entering the secretariat before some party members forced their way into the premises.
Addressing reporters, the leader of the PDP youth wing, Olutayo Oluyi, said the party had written to the security agents, especially the police, about the protest to prevent it from being hijacked.
“But to our surprise, we saw security agencies with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and their vehicles with about 400 personnel armed to the teeth at the front of our secretariat.
“We asked them what they were doing here, but they said they wouldn’t allow us to enter our secretariat. After some time, they allowed us access, but some of our staff were asked to leave the office,” he said.
While noting that Mr Akeredolu could not continue to rule the state through a proxy, Mr Oluyi said it was high time the governor resigned if he was no longer capable of leading the state.
“So, we are giving him three days ultimatum to address us, and if he fails, we as the opposition party will occupy the streets of Akure, and we will continue to demand that he either resumes or resigns,” he added.
Earlier, the party’s spokesperson, Kennedy Peretei, condemned the invasion of the secretariat by security operatives, stating that staff were denied access to their offices by the officers who offered no explanations for their actions.
It took frantic efforts of members of the PDP State Working Committee before the secretariat gate was opened amidst serious tension and confrontation.