16th October, 2023
Police,Department of State Services, DSS and Civil Defence operatives on Monday morning took over the secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Akure, the capital of Ondo State early in what was believed to be a preemptive move to stop planned protest against continued absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from the state.
The Ondo chapter of PDP had been raising concerns that Akeredolu who returned to Nigeria some weeks ago from a three- month medical vacation has not stepped foot in the State.
Akeredolu is reportedly in his Ibadan, Oyo State home where he has been directing affairs of the State.
It was learnt that some youths who are members of PDP had planned to embark on massive protest that will take off from the secretariat of the party on Monday in furtherance of agitations for return of Akeredolu to the state.
However to forestall the plan, security operatives including police, DSS and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) barricaded the party’s secretariat as early as 6:00 am with no fewer than 13 patrol vans and one armoured personnel carrier (APC) deployed for the operation.
One of the leaders of the youth wing of PDP, Tayo Oluyi, confirmed the protest while lamenting how they were shut of the secretariat by security operatives.
But PDP had accused Akeredolu and the APC of orchestrating security forces to take over the secretariat to suppress dissent and prevent their members from airing their grievances.