The police in Akure, Ondo State capital, yesterday disrupted a peaceful rally organised by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to welcome the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Pastor Yemi Osibanjo.
Not a few party members who thronged the campaign office of General Muhammadu Buhari at Leo Junction along Oyemekun Road in Akure were tear-gassed.
The rally, tagged Work for Change, was organised by an APC chieftain, Hon Boloa Ilori, and witnessed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.
A cheerful crowd of APC supporters and members of the Hausa community had assembled at the venue of the rally as early as 7. a.m to welcome Prof Osinbajo when men of the Ondo State Police Command stormed the venue and released tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Journalists who were on ground to cover the rally were not spared by the police.
The Nation gathered that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Eke, had warned the APC members to confine their rally to the premises of the campaign office.
The APC members were said to have insisted on carrying out their rally by walking round the town, arguing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had lifted ban on campaign rallies
Speaking with reporters, the Chairman of Ondo APC, Isaac Kekemeke, said the incident was an unfolding drama because he had been in constant touch with the state Commissioner of Police on the need to allow the party to hold the rally.
He said: “I have been discussing with the Commissioner of Police constantly. I still spoke with him a few minutes ago and we are still talking. He told me that he had been directed from Abuja not to allow the rally to hold because our campaign would disturb the peace of the state.
“Our party members have conducted themselves peacefully with members of the public and we are only waiting for our visitors, Osibanjo, Aregbesola and others to start the programme before we were tear-gassed.
“I have urged my members not to attack the police; we are going to hold the rally. If the police attack you, don’t attack them, if they tear-gas you, use water to clean your face”.
