Hoodlums Disrupt Opeyemi Bamidele's Campaign Rally In Ekiti

Commercial and vehicular activities were paralysed in some parts of Ado Ekiti on Thursday as some hoodlums turned the streets of the state capital to a war front in order to stop a campaign rally by a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele.

Bamidele, a former information commissioner in Lagos State, who represents Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 in the National Assembly, was billed to publicly declare his governorship ambition in the state on Thursday.

The hoodlums took to the streets as early as 7am, barricading the Ajebandele Road and the Ajilosun area up to Okeyinmi Junction in Ado Ekiti.

The group, led by the state Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Rotimi  Olabiwonu, carried dangerous weapons like guns, cutlasses and clubs as they drove dangerously around town in a convoy.

A detachment of policemen from the state police command arrived the scene later to disperse Bamidele’s supporters from holding the rally.

The heavily-armed and stern-looking policemen fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd while some were arrested.