Tight Security in Ilorin as A’ Court Rules Today

About 2,000 riot policemen have been deployed in strategic places in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, ahead of today’s ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting in the town on the petition filed by the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Fayemi is challenging the victory of the state Governor Segun Oni in the April 14, 2007 election.
Also yesterday, politicians from the two political parties involved in the petition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and AC from Ekiti State, have since weekend occupied major hotels in Ilorin so they can get to the court early for the judgment.
Fayemi had filed a petition before the Justice Bwala-led election tribunal alleging irregularities in respect of the gubernatorial election and praying the tribunal to void Oni’s victory.
But the tribunal upheld Oni’s victory and dismissed the petition on the ground that Fayemi failed to prove his case beyond any reasonable doubt.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, Fayemi headed for the appellate court.
Sources at the Kwara State Police Command told THISDAY that the command had mobilised riot policemen from the various divisions and area commands in the state in order to forestall any breakdown of law and order in the city.
Riot policemen had taken positions in areas such as Asa Dam, Surulere and Adewole Junction among others. The policemen were seen checking both incoming and outgoing vehicles.
Contacted on the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Alao Abdul-Azeez, who confirmed the beefing up of security within and around the state capital and the court venue, said the action would assist the police to fish out those that might want to foment trouble.
He said the development became imperative in view of the influx of politicians to the state for the judgment.
Meanwhile, as the people of Ekiti State await the court verdict, leaders of the two parties in the election petition, PDP and AC, have both appealed to their supporters to remain calm.
Since the appellate court fixed February 17, 2009 for the ruling, there had been tension in the state with government’s loyalists and some opposition figures having hot exchanges.
There have been accusations and counter accusations over attempts to cause mayhem in respect of the verdict.
But leaders of the two parties who spoke with THISDAY expressed hope of securing victory at the appeal court.
PDP’s Director of Communi-cation and Strategy Jackson Adebayo said today’s ruling was a forgone conclusion since AC had lost its case at the lower tribunal, adding that there was nothing to fear at the appellate court.
Adebayo said the idea of going to the appeal court in the first instance was a waste of time.
Asked what the party would do should the appeal court order a re-run, Adebayo said: “There is nothing like re-run. The victory at the lower tribunal is a pointer to what is going to happen today”.
In his own reaction, AC state Chairman Jide Awe said: “We are sure of victory, more so that the Ekiti people are yearning for justice in the state. We had presented our case beyond reasonable doubt. It’s our belief that the Bwala’s judgment was faulty in the first instance and our last hope is the appeal court.”