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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo descended into chaos on Wednesday as political tensions boiled over ahead of the forthcoming 15 August governorship election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, was in Osun State to engage with key stakeholders. His visit included a stop in Ile-Ife on Tuesday, where he met with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other traditional rulers, assuring them of a credible, free, fair, and transparent election.
However, the situation turned volatile during the stakeholders’ gathering at the Atlantis Event Centre on Wednesday.
Trouble began when the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, was invited to speak and was met with loud boos from sections of the crowd wearing the yellow colour associated with the Accord Party.
The disturbance followed an earlier warning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding alleged plots to disrupt the INEC chairman’s visit.
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Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, Head of the Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Campaign, claimed the party received intelligence that members of the Accord Party planned to stage a protest.
According to the APC, the demonstration was intended to derail the engagement and demand the removal of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner.
The party further alleged that the protest was being sponsored by Yeyeluwa Dupe Adeleke, the elder sister of Governor Ademola Adeleke, claiming it involved mobilising hoodlums from Ede and Osogbo alongside women dressed semi-nude.
The atmosphere grew even more chaotic later in the programme when the member representing Ede Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Head of Media, Campaign Council of the Accord Party, Bamidele Salam, took the floor to speak and was similarly booed by individuals suspected to be APC members, further disrupting the proceedings.
