Demonstration shocks Kogi as Saraki visits ahead of 2019 election ~ Zip Up Gist

Demonstration shocks Kogi as Saraki visits ahead of 2019 election

The protest followed a campaign visit by the Senate President in the state - The group alleged a plan by Bukola Saraki to impose Senator Dino Melaye on Kogi west constituents ahead of the 2019 election Some protesters on Tuesday, October 2, took over the streets of Kogi state as Senate President Bukola Saraki paid a visit to the state. The protesters in their scores besieged the Kogi state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Lokoja, disrupting the campaign visit of Senator Saraki. The Nation reports that Saraki was in Kogi to woo delegates ahead of the party’s national convention where he will be contesting for the PDP presidential ticket. However, stalling the campaign, the protesters who carried placards with inscriptions like “No to Imposition”, “Don’t Impose Dino on Us”, “Allow for Free, Fair Primaries”, “Kogi is not Kwara" took over the event. They urged the Senate president not to impose Senator Dino Melaye on Kogi West, a decision believed to have been influenced by Saraki. The spokespersons for the protesters, Stephen Segun Aina and Aisha Jibril said: “Imposing Melaye on the district without a primary will affect the fortune of the PDP in the district."

They added that an automatic ticket allegedly granted the serving senator who recently returned to the PDP is unacceptable. They said they were dissatisfied with the alleged imposition and disqualification of four other aspirants who have sustained the PDP until now. The protesters also said the plan to impose anyone on them is an act of wickedness and injustice by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP. READ ALSO: Tinubu emerges from meeting with presidency, takes final decision on Lagos APC governorship candidate In his reaction, Saraki said his aspiration to become the next president of Nigeria is to make the country work again. He promised to improve on the well-being of Nigerians, saying the present administration has failed in meeting its change agenda. He also solicited the support of delegates to enable him meet with the yearnings and aspiration of Nigerians.