SECURITY AGENTS ARREST FABOO,OTHERS FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT AS JEGEDE'S RALLY KICKS OFF TODAY

SECURITY AGENTS ARREST FABOO,OTHERS FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT AS JEGEDE'S RALLY KICKS OFF TODAY
The Okon Abang's ruling against the candidature of Eyitayo Jegede as the Peoples Democratic Party's flagbearer in the November 26,governorship election in Ondo State has caused confusion in the rank and files of the party as security agents may halt the flag off rally scheduled to hold today, 19th,October 2016 at the democracy park in Akure,the Ondo state capital.
Justice Abang last week Friday directed the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC),to recognise  and publish Barr.Jimoh Ibrahim as the flag bearer of the State Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the forthcoming election in Ondo state in a suite filed before an Abuja High Court.
However, the Governor Mimiko-led faction of the party had ignored Justice Abang's ruling with the planned rally which would be used to sensitize the electorates on the need to ignore the ruling.
This development informed the decision of the Jimoh Ibrahim's faction to stop the proposed rally by intimating the state security service  in order for the state chapter of the PDP to adhere strictly to the court ruling.

In a related development, the publicity Secretary of the Mimiko-led faction of the PDP,Banjo Okunomo  has berated the Nigerian Police over the arrests of its members early this morning.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has called on Nigeria Police to stop harassing its members.

In a press statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Ondo State, Mr. Banji Okunomo said intimidating  members of the party would discomfit people as the PDP prepares for the flag off of its campaigns today.

He noted that such a development would make members feel politically unsafe  in Ondo State.

According to Okunomo, about 50 members of the party are being arrested and harassed by the Nigeria Police in the State.

His words: "Reports reaching the party secretariat say that some party faithfuls particularly youth leaders of the PDP in Ondo State are being invited for questioning by the Police since morning.

"The information we got is that the arrest is ongoing knowing full well that today is the flag off of the party's campaign", he said.

Okunomo who noted that arrest of party members is ill timed said the State is preparing for governorship election and as such, things that could tell on the peace of the State should not be allowed.

"Much as we are not saying that security agencies should not perform their duties, if, especially, they find anybody wanting in conduct or behaviour, we also want to say that any act on the part of these security agents should be properly channeled at this period where what is rampant in Nigeria now is that anybody, no matter how highly placed could be harassed, democratic norms are not respected and there is much of intimidation.

"All we are saying as a party is that if things are allowed to go on the way they are, and some of these acts are left unchecked, it would spell doom for our democracy. We do not want a repeat of 1983 saga in Ondo State

"This is why we are raising this alarm now so that things could be done appropriately. Whoever is found to have committed an offence should be shown to the whole world and the due process of prosecution should not be by passed.

"Things should not be done by arresting or intimidating anybody especially when it is believed that such has political motives", he said.

He posited that the PDP unlike APC would always encourage peace and tranquillity saying development can only thrive under such an atmosphere.

"What we are saying is that we as a party will not support that and we will tolerate and accept that. I also want to say that our party has been a peaceful one since inception.

"So, we do not want anybody to compound the situation or raise the temperature of crisis in Ondo State because our governorship election is around the corner.

"Again, we appeal that such an act should be discouraged. Even though we are aware that the arrested persons are with men of the SIB, we would not disclose their identities for security reasons.

"We are raising our voice to the whole world that democracy can only thrive where freedom of expression and freedom of association with choice political parties is allowed".
"We want to call on President Buhari to use his good office to call the police to order so that our hard earned democracy would not be derailed", he said.
More details later....