Street Protests, Bon Fires In Ondo Over INEC’s Replacement Of Eyitayo Jegede With Jimoh Ibrahim As PDP Guber Candidate

Raging protests have taken hold of Ondo state.

The major action is said to be in state capital Akure with minor engagements in other parts of the state.

And the cause of the expression of disaffection which is said to have taken hold of different streets in the state with Governor Olusegun Mimiko as front is the recent action of the

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The electoral body just released the names of candidates for the November 28 2016 gubernatorial election – and replaced the name of popular candidate Eyitayo Jegede with Jimoh Ibrahim as Peoples Democratic Party flag bearer.

Youths angry with the development which transpired yesterday, Thursday October 27 2016 have taken to the streets of Ondo today Friday October, 28 2016 to show their anger.
They are said to be expressing their emotions with bon fires and street chants of ‘’Eyi Lafe’’ ‘’Eyi’’ is the abbreviated form of popular candidate Eyitayo Jegede and ‘’Lafe’’ means want.

INEC based it’s decision to dislodge Jegede from it’s register of candidates on recent court pronouncement that declared Ibrahim Ondo PDP candidate in the state.

Ibrahim is a product of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the splintered PDP.

A counter suit which secured a stay of execution by the Jegede camp which belonged to the Ahmed Makarfi led faction obviously failed to have desired effect.

Eyitayo, the more popular candidate is the anointed candidate out going governor Olusegun Mimiko and what his widely acknowledged the state helmsman’s ‘’highly effective’’ political machinery.

Interestingly Jimoh Ibrahin the announced candidate by INEC just splashed the state leadership of the commission with muddy waters of allegations of bribery.

And according to a source ‘’contrary to the commission’s stipulations, the primary election that produced Ibrahim as factional party candidate did not hold in Ondo state and was not attended by INEC’’.

Information available indicates shadow election that produced Jegede and made him initially recognised candidate by INEC fulfilled these conditions.

Information filtering in has it that law enforcers have been deployed by authorities to quell the protests.

Added revelation has it that the protesters have vowed to carry on until Jegede is once again recognised as PDP candidate in the state.

Multiple fingers are currently being pointed in different quarters as responsible for the unexpected twist that has taken hold of Ondo politics with Jimoh Ibrahim labelled mere fringe beneficiary – with no inkling of what is really at play.