Thousands of aggrieved youths ostensibly sponsored by Governor Olusegun Mimiko staged a protest against the candidature of Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the November 26th, 2016 governorship election in the state.
The protesters in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Friday were mainly youths, early in the day, they blocked the major roads and entrance of the popular Oba Adesida, Isolo, Arakale, and Oyemekun road in the capital city.
The protestors also barricaded all the adjourning routes to the streets of the state capital brandishing dangerous weapons such as stones, sticks, and machetes.
They chanted solidarity songs and made bonfires while destroying Mr. Ibrahim's campaign posters placed on the main roads.
SaharaReporters correspondent covering the protest reported that the action of the protesters had paralyzed business and social activities in the state as security agencies which included the officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and State Security Service (DSS) are seen pacifying the angry youths in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
The protesters claimed that the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to replace Mr. Eyitayo Jegede's name with Mr. Ibrahim was unacceptable to the people of Akure town.
The aggrieved youths who have sympathy for the candidature of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the final verdict of the electoral body was callous.
SaharaReporters correspondent reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Thursday replaced Mr. Eyitayo Jegede with Jimoh Ibrahim's name following a federal court order.
Protestors insisted that would not allow Mr. Ibrahim, a controversial businessman as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ondo State for the November election.
Abiodun Adesida, one of the leaders of the protesters, said they (youths) would resist the imposition of Mr. Ibrahim on the people of the town.
Mr. Adesida stated that Jegede, a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State installed by embattled Governor Mimiko is the preferred candidate of PDP in Akure.
"Our position is clear; we don't want any other person except Mr. Eyitayo Jegede as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State for the governorship election.
"Who is Jimoh Ibrahim in PDP, someone who has left for Accord Party (AP) and now want to get the ticket of the party from the back door using the instrumentality of the judiciary. We can't allow that in Akure.
"We have spoken, and nothing would change our decision that an Akureman must at all cost become the next governor of this state. Enough is enough" he said.
Some disgruntled members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have also joined in the protest with a threat to set the town on fire if Mr. Jegede's name is not placed on the ballot.[slideshow]49862[/slideshow]