By Lateef Ibrahim
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has alleged a growing campaign of intimidation against its members, claiming that several supporters and party officials have been arrested under questionable circumstances ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
Speaking at the campaign office of the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Oluwole Oluyede, in Ado-Ekiti, the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Deji Ogunsakin, accused security operatives of targeting opposition members in what he described as an attempt to instill fear within the party.
According to Ogunsakin, some party loyalists were allegedly taken from their homes during security operations in Ikere Ekiti and other communities, with relatives reportedly left without information regarding their whereabouts.
He expressed concern over what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding the arrests, claiming that efforts to obtain information from security agencies had yielded little result.
The PDP chieftain also alleged the existence of an unofficial security outfit involved in operations against opposition figures, urging authorities to investigate the claims and clarify the status of those reportedly detained.
Ogunsakin warned that actions perceived as political intimidation could increase tensions in the state and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
While maintaining confidence in his party’s chances at the polls, he called on relevant authorities, including President Bola Tinubu and security agencies, to ensure the protection of democratic rights and guarantee a level playing field for all political actors.
Also speaking, PDP leader Chief Sanya Atofarati criticized the alleged arrests and argued that greater attention should be directed toward addressing security challenges such as kidnapping and criminal activities affecting residents.
The opposition party called for an independent investigation into the allegations and urged security agencies to uphold professionalism and neutrality as political activities intensify ahead of the election.He noted that violent and divisive primaries often leave political parties deeply fractured, adding that properly negotiated consensus arrangements may help preserve unity within the opposition bloc.
