Ahead of this Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti state, drivers’ unions in the state have withdrawn from the roads, citing alleged victimisation by the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The state Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Clement Adekola, told journalists on Monday night that their members would not work on Tuesday to avoid bloodshed.
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected in Ado-Ekiti Tuesday (today) to attend the mega rally of the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Adekola claimed that he and other leaders of driver unions in Ekiti state had come under serious threats for supporting the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.
“I have been receiving strange calls and even told that thugs from Ondo State have been hired to attack our members and perceived supporters of Governor Ayodele Fayose.
“We decided to withdraw our services from the roads so that they won’t carry out their threats tomorrow (Tuesday).
“We initially thought of parking our vehicles in our houses but we are not safe. So, we decided to run to Government House for protection.”
Adekola said the Commissioner of Police, Bello Ahmed, and the state Director of Department of State Services, DSS, Mrs Promise Iheanacho, did not respond to their petitions, hence they ran to the governor.
The chairman of Pickup and lorry drivers’ Association of Nigeria, Atowoju Adekunle, said no intimidation or harassment would change their minds from voting for the PDP candidate.
“We may have to withdraw our services until our security is guaranteed. APC should not boil this state,” he said.