The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has condemned the undemocratic act exhibited by some political thugs in Ekiti State against members of his party.
Aregbesola’s condemnation came after some hoodlums stormed the Ekiti State secretariat of the party and vandalized properties worth millions of naira at midnight.
The Ekiti State chapter of ADC had planned to inaugurate State officials today before the incident. The things burnt down the ADC Secretariat located at Basiri road, including a 1000-capacity canopy.
As if that was not enough, the hoodlums came back the second time to wreak another set of havoc, destroying another set of chairs when the party was about ready to commence the inauguration of the executives.
ADC members, who had gathered, scampered to safety at the hearing of sporadic gunshots.
Other items vandalized included chairs, tables, canopies, musical instruments, and a motorbike, among others.
Ogbeni Aregbesola, who said it is so unfortunate and very shameful that a product of the democratic process can exhibit such despicable acts in the name of politics.
Aregbesola noted that it is difficult to adequately express his disappointment over the incident, as he called on security agencies to protect lives and order in the state. He said what happened in Ekiti State yesterday is a terrible decline in racism.
“When you see undemocratic people undermining the Democratic process the way we have witnessed here, it is a terrible decline to racism”.
The former Minister of Interior pointed out that the beauty of democracy is the freedom to associate, participate in all the activities and festivals of democracy, such as open meetings, rallies, and campaigns.
Police Public Relations Officer, PRO, Ekiti State command, SP Abutu, said the C.P has ordered an investigation into the matter, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
Aregbesola called on Nigerians and the security agencies to rise to exterminate undemocratic acts in Nigeria.
Notwithstanding the initial setback, the party held affirmation for the state executives of the ADC in Ekiti State by Dr. Bamidele Ajayi, while the state chairman of the party, Mr. Ilesanmi Omolayo, also inaugurated other Executives in the state at the event.
The chairman, ADC, in Ekiti State, Mr. Ilesanmi Omolayo, called on party members to stand firm as the party of the moment in the state.
Omolayo urged them not to be weary of what happened to the party on the day of the inauguration of executives in the state, but to stand with the party towards winning all the elections in the state.
Among the ADC chieftains at the event were former deputy Governor in Ekiti, Prof. Olu Sola Eleka, and former speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogun.
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