The members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo on Monday clashed with the armed security agents who stormed their secretariat following a planned protest against the continued absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in the state.

The clash resulted from the siege laid on the PDP secretariat along the popular Alagbaka road in Akure by the combined team of security agents in the state. 

Over the weekend, PDP vowed to stage a protest in Akure against Mr Akeredolu’s continued stay in his Ibadan residence after his return from a three-month medical trip in Germany. 

Peoples Gazette observed that men of the Nigeria Police Force, the State Security Service, and the Civil Defence Corps cordoned off the opposition party’s secretariat with their vehicles in the early hours of Monday. 

It was gathered that the action of the stern-looking and fully armed security agents was to prevent the opposition party members from carrying out the planned protest. 

The security agents had also prevented journalists from entering the secretariat before some party members forced their way into the premises. 

Addressing reporters, the leader of the PDP youth wing, Olutayo Oluyi, said the party had written to the security agents, especially the police, about the protest to prevent it from being hijacked. 

“But to our surprise, we saw security agencies with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and their vehicles with about 400 personnel armed to the teeth at the front of our secretariat. 

“We asked them what they were doing here, but they said they wouldn’t allow us to enter our secretariat after some time; they allowed us access, but some of our staff were asked to leave the office,” he said. 

While noting that Mr Akeredolu could not continue to rule the state through a proxy, Mr Oluyi said it was high time the governor resigned if he was no longer capable of leading the state.  

“So, we are giving him three days ultimatum to address us, and if he fails, we as the opposition party will occupy the streets of Akure, and we will continue to demand that he either resume or resign,” he stated. 

Earlier, the party’s spokesperson, Kennedy Peretei, condemned the invasion of the secretariat by security, stating that staff were denied access to their offices by the officers who offered no explanations for their actions.

“It took frantic efforts of members of the PDP State Working Committee before the secretariat gate was opened amidst serious tension and confrontation.

“Photojournalists were threatened to stop recording anything lest their cameras were smashed. But as the PDP youths forced themselves into the secretariat, proceeding on a street protest would amount to daring the trigger-happy police to do their worst.

“As much as the officers tried to stop the protest, they failed because the youths displayed their banners and placards to journalists who gained entrance into the secretariat,” Mr Peretei explained. 

But the spokeswoman for the Ondo Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, told The Gazette that the police officers were drafted by the party secretariat to prevent the breakdown of law and order. 

“We sent our personnel to the area to prevent law and order. We had gotten a letter from one Tayo Oluyi. But we are not sure if the letter was actually from the opposition party because there was no contact or address to reach out to, and the content had no letterhead. 

“So, we were very sceptical, and we had to send our men down to prevent the breakdown of law and order. Protest is the right of the citizens, but we are advising that it must be done in accordance with the law,” she said