14th April, 2011
There was stampede this morning as a members of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), embarked on a protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office on Marine Road, Lokoja, Kogi State.
The aggrieved ANPP members were protesting that the National Assembly election held on Saturday last week was not free, fair and transparent.
Some of the placards they carried read: ‘Declare Hon Dino now,’ ‘our vote must count,’ ‘ANPP want justice,’ ‘Ibaji election was a fraud,’ ‘we no go gree,’ ‘there was no election in Ayewa,’ ‘police is for all political parties’ and ‘cancel the election now’ among others.
They were also chanting solidarity songs like ‘how many people PDP go kill o…’ and vowed to go on hunger strike if their demands are not met.
The protesters, headed by Hon Dino Melaye, who is also a House of Representatives candidate of the party, insisted that the Resident Electoral Commissiner, Alhaji Ahmadu Mohammed Abubakar, must address the issues of irregularities that marred the election before they will disperse.
According to Hon Melaye, “we had earlier petitioned the REC, INEC, Police and SSS among others, but there was no response from any of them. Though we have decided to boycott this Saturday’s election, it should be noted that in an unjust society, silence is a crime. That is why we have embarked on this peaceful protest to make our grievances known, since INEC has been nonchalant about it.”
P.M.NEWS gathered that when the protesting electorate were approaching INEC office, they were first prevented by mobile policemen. The cops actually punctured the tyres of their vehicles and the action almost led to a riot.
But the arrival of the Police Commissioner, Lateef Adetunji and the SSS calmed the situation.
While addressing the protesters, the REC advised the ANPP members to go to the election tribunal, adding that INEC will be ready to cooperate by providing any document they needed to establish their case.
—Bayo Adetu/Lokoja