October 2, 2009

Evidence of Violence Against Observers in Ekiti\'s ReRun Elections of April/May 2009

Dear All:
 
 
1. On April 25 and May 5, 2009, Re-run (or Supplementary) Elections in the gubernatorial contest between AC\'s Kayode Fayemi and PDP\'s Segun Oni were held in 10 local governments, 63 wards, and about 800 polling units in  Ekiti State in an attempt to complete the April 14, 2007 elections as ordered by the Elections Appeal Tribunal ruling of February 17, 2009.

2.  Serious violence on life, limb and property was carried out particularly against independent observers - including journalists - and AC operatives by a combined team of PDP goons and security agents during the re-run.  Some of this was caught SECRETLY on tape, examples of which are now shown below in two videos.  These are also being made available (among other documentary evidences) at the ongoing re-run tribunal in Ado-Ekiti.

3.  Video #1: April 24, 2009, eve of the election

                               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HUQytgR7jE
                              Torture Chambers in Ekiti Govt House. Segun Oni\'s Violation of Citizens right
 
Explaining the scene -twitter-style!:
 
The venu is Ekiti Government House,  where journalists duly accredited by INEC to observe d rerun Government Election were assaulted, beaten, bitten & manhandled 4 being in d "wrong place @ d wrong time" & \'discovering\' paid agents who were engaged in multiple thumb-printing of ballot papers on d eve of d rerun elections (24th April, 2009). The victims shown in d video are Itobo Ofem of d Verite Newspapers (based in Rivers State); Gospel Oziri of d National Guide Newspapers (based in Ebonyi State); & ... The PDP goons & perpetrators in d video are; (1) Sanya Adesua alias Pero- Commissioner I, Ekiti State Civil Service Commission (ESCSC); (2) Bolanle Bruce (female) Snr. Special Asst to Gov. Segun Oni on Ekiti in Diaspora. A member of Ekitipanupo online forum, Bruce was shown in d video interrogating d journalists & taking their pictures & addressing them as fake journalists. She asked 1 of d journalists..."Can I ask him a ques Akogun? (Ijakoko was same as Akogun in d video) Was I not d 1 that accosted u on d day of d Local Govt Election @ Awo-Ekiti? You were in a Niger Delta wear. Answer me now it\'s a ques. You were driving in a...kiloruko Motor yiii oooo Golf." But d journalist wasn\'t in Ekiti @ that time & his negative response only earned him more beating from his tormentors while Bola Bruce supervised & enjoyed d scene. (3) \'Pastor\' Yemi Olayinka- A PDP Chairmanship aspirant 4 Ado-Ekiti Local Govt in d Local Govt Elections of 2008. He was defeated in d primaries by Mrs Tosin Aluko. He appeared in d video in a multi-coloured Ankara fabric & he wore glasses. He was laughing heartily while d journalists were being beaten mercilessly. Yemi Olayinka is also a member of Ekitipanupo online forum. (4) Olu Ojo--A strong member of d PDP from Ifaki shown in d video wearing a hat & slapped one of d journalists towards d end of d video when they were asked to carry their shoes on their heads. Olu Ojo is fat with a robust cheek (5) Femi Ijakoko- He is Gov Segun Onis thug & until recently, was second in Command to Erinmoje. He\'s since taken over as no 1. He was wearing a flowing buba & sokoto (Milk colour). He bites one of d journalists as a lion would tear its prey. He interrogated them by asking d ques..." And you, what is your business in that place that I saw you?.. If you provoke me I will blast your head...!" (6) Femi aka Akilapa- A PDP thug of no fixed address. He was shown in d video wearing a multi coloured \'buba\' & \'sokoto\' adire fabric. He was most vicious in d video as he played d role of a professional slap-giver. He was d one shouting on d journalists, "kneel down! Kneel down!"

4.  Video # 2: April 25, 2009 - Day of the Re-Run Elections

 
              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArLPSTZMjOk
              At Ifaki & its environs
 

Explaining the scene:

Dehumanised in this video were  renowned political scientist and senior lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Dr Abubakar Momoh and Barrister Wahab Oyedokun of the Federal Government\'s human rights ombudsman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).  Other members of the IFAKI-7, as they became known later, are Mrs Bimbo Adewumi of the ActionAid Nigeria [AAN], an Abuja-based international NGO; Dr Azeez Olaniyan, polical scientist and lecturer at University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD); Mr Fouad Oki of the Centre for the Defense of Human rights (CDHR); and two others.

5.  Still Picture # 1 at Court Scene of September 28:   Segun Ajayi Displaying his amputated leg   (Not for the Squeamish!)

                 http://www.nigerianmuse.com/images/Segun_Ajayi_displaying_amputated_leg_from_Ekiti_crisis_in_court_September_2009.jpg

Explaining the scene:

The picture shows Segun Ajayi lofting high his leg  that was amputated as a result of gunshots wound he sustained at Ido -Ekiti collation centre on April 25, 2009 during Ekiti gubernatorial rerun election. Segun,  a carpenter and on crutches,  was  in the tribunal dock on Monday September 28, 2009 as Petitioner Witness 42 (PW 42), having served as an agent for his party (Action Congress) at the April 25 governorship rerun election.  His display caused a stench - and an immediate adjournment of the sitting until the morrow.

6.  We are providing all these documentary evidences that the world may know what went on in Ekiti during the re-run elections.   Their perpetrators shall not get away with it!

Stay tuned for more by and by......yes, that the world may know!

Bolaji Aluko

 For the KF Campaign