The candidate of the Congress of all progressives (APC) in Saturday’s Akure North/South federal constituency by-election, Mayokun Alade was nearly beaten by voters after he was accused of participating in vote-buying.
The incident occurred in Gbogi Isinkan II, District 3, Unit 14, South Akure Local Government Area, Ondo State.
Voters who were visibly enraged by his actions immediately challenged him and tried to manhandle him.
He was chased away from the voting unit before security agents came to his rescue.
The incident nearly disrupted elections in the unit, but APC leaders in the state quickly moved to protect him and took him away.
It was also reported that people protested against the APC candidate, as he was seen from afar giving some people money, supposedly to induce them to vote for him.
He was quickly removed from the scene as people rallied against him, causing an uproar in the voting unit.
The uproar prevented her from casting her vote at the voting unit, which was her registered unit.
Some voters in the unit, who asked not to be identified, confirmed the incident, revealing that the candidate only ‘appreciated’ party supporters by giving them soda money.
They pointed out that it was the members of the PPD who mobilized to disrupt the voting process in the voting unit, trying to ruin the chances of their candidate. They disclosed that he was prevented from voting.
ALSO READ: Low voter turnout mars Imo by-election
However, Alade has denied the accusation.
“People saw me in white and waved at me, trying to hug me,” he said.
“I didn’t give anyone money to vote for me.”
He claimed that he had voted before he was removed from the premises so as not to disrupt the election.
He said that he was also optimistic that he would win the election because of his development agenda for the growth of the Akure people.
Alade is fighting with Muyiwa Adu of the PDP.
The post became vacant after the death of PDP member Adedayo Omolafe, who passed away in August last year.