Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, governor of Ogun state, failed in his bid to restore normalcy at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun state, on Monday.
An unruly crowd had disrupted the presidential rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), forcing security operatives to form a ring around President Muhammadu Buhari.
Trouble started after Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the party, introduced Dapo Abiodun, gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the state.
Shouts of “Ole! Ole! Ole!” rented the air as the angry mob pelted Oshiomhole with stones.
The APC national chairman ended his speech abruptly and handed over the microphone to Abike Dabiri, a presidential aide, who anchored the programme.
Dabiri had introduced Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as the next speaker but before then Amosun took to the podium to appeal to the aggrieved persons in the crowd.
“I beg you in the name of God… this is what they want to happen… Please don’t disgrace me here,” he said in Yoruba.
“Our father is here, please don’t disgrace me. I beg you in the name of God, please don’t disgrace me before our father… We have laboured this hard. I am appealing to you. Please, leave. I beg you in the name of God, please leave. I beg you. I am begging.”
Amosun had lost out in his bid to secure the APC gubernatorial ticket for Adekunle Akinlade, a serving member of the house of representatives.
The governor had accused Oshiomhole and some APC leaders of working against the interest of the state through the emergence of Abiodun, whom he vowed not to hand over to.
After losing the APC ticket, Akinlade defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), under which he would be contesting the March 2 election while Amosun, his benefactor, will contest Saturday’s senatorial election under APC.