The local government election conducted in Ondo State on Saturday was reportedly marred by violence and unrest in Ajowa-Akoko, a community situated within the Akoko North-West Local Government Area. This development has raised concerns about the fairness and integrity of the electoral process in the area.
According to reports, the disturbances began in Ajowa-Akoko following attempts to allegedly coerce voters, particularly supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), into backing an opposition candidate. This effort, which many residents described as an act of intimidation, led to heightened tensions and unrest in the community.
Sources cited by Daily Post allege that a minister from the state was the mastermind behind these anti-party activities. One of the sources, identified as Sesan, accused the minister of exploiting his influence to manipulate the electoral process. Sesan claimed that the minister orchestrated the deployment of security personnel, who reportedly interfered with the smooth conduct of the election, further exacerbating the situation.
The crisis reportedly escalated in Ward 5 of Ajowa-Akoko when an APC leader, purportedly acting on the minister’s instructions, directed voters to abandon the party’s councillorship candidate, Toye, in favor of an opposition candidate. This directive angered residents, who felt betrayed by the alleged anti-party activities and manipulation of the electoral process.
In response to these events, the residents of Ajowa-Akoko, including youths and women, took to the streets in protest. They barricaded major roads leading into the town using various objects and lit bonfires as a demonstration of their frustration and resistance to what they perceived as a blatant abuse of power.
The protests soon turned violent, with several individuals reportedly sustaining injuries during clashes with security forces. Efforts by the security personnel to disperse the protesters using teargas were met with strong resistance, as the community stood firm in their determination to defend their electoral rights.
Residents expressed their displeasure, stating that “Akoko North-West belongs to all of us, and we must resist any attempt to turn it into a theatre of personal vendettas and political hegemony.” They emphasized that the use of state machinery to disrupt elections and intimidate party members is a gross abuse of power that cannot be tolerated and must not go unchallenged.
One of the sources involved in the protest called on the relevant authorities to “immediately investigate the minister’s anti-party activities and his role in the violence and disruptions in Ajowa Ward 5.” The source further stated that evidence of the minister’s involvement is available and will be presented to support their call for justice.
Adding to the allegations, Gani Muhammed Ajowa, a former special adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on special duties, publicly condemned the minister’s actions. He stated, “The minister has been accused of working against the political party that made him. He provided money and deployed operatives of a department under the ministry he oversees as a minister.” These accusations have further intensified calls for accountability and transparency in the handling of the situation.