Offa poll: Olanipekun sworn in, APC intensifies protests
A large crowd of members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Offa Local Government Area on Tuesday continued the party's planned six-day protest against the result of the Offa LG rerun election announced on the state radio on Sunday, in which the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Segun Olanipekun, was declared winner.
But while the protests were going on, Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, was swearing in Olanipekun as the newly elected Chairman of Offa LG.
The APC protesters in Ilorin matched from the APC office at Offa Road, Ilorin, to Post Office Junction, through Emir's Road; to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahimm Zulu Gambari.
The protesters later matched to the Old Yidi Road, from where they matched to Unity Road; and then to Muritala Muhammed Road, with a brief stop in front of the state Police Command, along Ahamdu Bellow Way. From there, they went to the Government House.
They were however refused entry into the Government House by security operatives, who locked the gate. The protesters consequently retreated and matched down from Ahmadu Bello Way to Lajorin Road, near the High Court complex; and then to the APC office at Offa Road, where they later dispersed.
They vowed to continue with the protest on Wednesday.
An APC chief, Mr. Sola Iji, described the swearing-in as fraudulent, vowing that the protest would continue.
“We went through the town and returned to where we started from. Tomorrow, we will continue until justice is done. That swearing-in is a fraudulent one. As far as we are concerned, they (PDP) have not won any election and the true result should be given us. At the rightness of time, we will get our mandate.”
At Offa, the protesters matched around many streets and roads in the area, denouncing Olanipekun as their chairman. They called for the declaration and swearing-in of the APC candidate, Mr. Saheed Popoola, as the duly elected and authentic chairman.
At Olanipekun's swearing-in ceremony, the state governor urged the new LG boss to take urgent steps to implement people-friendly programmes to restore the people's faith in democratic governance.
He also charged Olanipekun to endeavour to provide transformational leadership, as he urged him to make himself accessible and execute all electioneering campaign promises faithfully.
He advised him to ensure that the entire Offa LG remained his constituency.
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