From News Editor
Students under the aegis of the Federation of Ekiti State Students Union have accused the Chairperson of the Igbara Odo/Ogotun Local Council Development Area, Bukola Olowolaju, of causing the abrupt end to the union’s election.
In separate interviews with PUNCH Metro, the members of the FESSU said they had gathered to elect new executive members of the union but the exercise was truncated upon the arrival of the council chairperson, accompanied by security men.
A student of the Federal University, Oye, Ekiti State, Agbaje Adewunmi, narrated that the venue of the election became chaotic after a misunderstanding ensued among the students over the conduct of the exercise.
He narrated that the council chairperson who initially attempted to calm the situation, shockingly declared that the election should be cancelled.
Adewunmi said, “While we were still trying to express our concerns respectfully, she made a phone call and within some minutes, a van loaded with armed military personnel arrived.
“Without warning, they began firing shots into the air, causing panic. Students ran for safety, but some were apprehended. Among them was our Senate President, who happens to be the younger brother of Frizzyfash.
“However, we were violently assaulted. We were slapped repeatedly, forced to sit in the gutter, and beaten with planks and boots—all while we tried to explain that we were neither rioting nor escaping.”
Adewunmi lamented that he still battled with the pains from the battering he suffered.
An ex-student who identified as Adebiyi claimed that the election was declared cancelled over the perception that the electorate were not willing to vote for an anointed candidate.
He narrated that following the arrival of the chairperson and her announcement that the election had been cancelled, the students revolted and shunned the directive to leave the venue.
“Suddenly, soldiers arrived at the venue and started shooting into the air. People were running helter-skelter. The soldiers slapped and whipped my younger brother with a horsewhip, and he was taken into the van by the DPO of the Ilawe police station before I demanded his release.”
When contacted for a reaction on Monday, the council chairperson, Olowolaju, in a signed statement, disclosed that she resorted to inviting the military to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
She noted that she was not informed about any election to be held in the area earlier, and when she received distressed calls from different stakeholders in the community, there was an ongoing public disturbance. {The Punch}