Security Operatives Take Over Ekiti, Arrest APC Leaders

Security operatives reportedly harassed some prominent
member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 16 local
government areas of Ekiti State ahead of today's
governorship election in the state.
According to report from Sahara Reporters, the security
operatives comprising the army, mobile police and State
Security Services (SSS) went on rampage, arresting and
terrorising people.
Those arrested include, Mr. Olaiya Popoolati who was picked
up by the security men in Iye Ekiti, the headquarters of
Ilejemeje Local Government, and taken to an unknown
destination.
The wife of another leader of the party, Chief Kehinde
Babatola was picked up as her husband was not at home
when they stormed his residence.
In Epe Ekiti in Moba Local Government area, the agents
picked up Femi Fadare while 10 men who were watching the
football match between France and Switzerland were arrested
in in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on the suspicion that they
were APC members.
An APC leader in Iye Ekiti, Chief Folorunsho Olabode reacting
to the arrest, described it as an attempt to intimidate the
people of Ekiti so that they do not exercise their civic rights
during the elections, adding that they will not allow the state
to be turned into a war zone.
Meanwhile, there reports that soldiers invaded the home
Director General of Governor Kayode Fayemi's campaign
organization, Bimbo Daramola's house in Ire-Ekiti but he had
left home before their invasion. He however disclosed that his
84-year old father had been thoroughly harassed by the
soldiers.
Sahara Reporters gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan
sent 36,000 security agents to Ekiti for the gubernatorial
elections. Among them are 12,340 regular policemen; 3170
anti-riot policemen; 4,280 soldiers; 1800 Nigerian secret
police operatives and 15 civil defense personnel.
Some days back, the APC had accused the PDP-led federal
government of militarizing Ekiti State as they had stopped the
governors of Kano, Rivers and Edo from attending the APC
governorship campaign rally in Ado-Ekiti .
The presidency had debunked this accusation, saying,
Jonathan's administration which has been most tolerant of
opposition is committed to free and fair elections.
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