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Ondo election, APC violating ‘Peace Accord’, attacking our chieftains —PDP alleges

…..APC Poised for Victory in Ondo, PDP’s Allegations distract us .

Hours to the governorship election in Ondo state, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, today again alleged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to violate the peace accord signed last week by all political parties in the state.

The PDP alleged members of APC in Idanre to have unleashed terror on leading members of the PDP, injuring at least seven people who are still lying critically injured at the State General Hospital in Akure, the state capital.

The Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, made the allegation at a press conference held at the Party’s State Secretariat in Akure,

PDP leader lamented that nobody has been apprehended among the suspected thugs who attacked their members in Idanre.

Olafeso alleged that the attack by thugs loyal to the APC in Idanre left seven members of PDP injured, saying the victims of the attack include a leader of the party in the area, Otunba Olowoniyi Akinlemimu.

He said Akinlemimu who was serious injured was still on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the State Specialists Hospital, Akure, while others were still receiving treatment after bullets were extracted from their bodies.

He also raised the alarm over plan by a top member of APC to mobilise paramilitary to participate in the election in order to compromise the governorship election in favour of APC.

Olafeso, who condemned any attempt by the ruling APC to undermine peaceful election in the state, said PDP will resist any  action to violate the peace Accord signed by all parties participating in this election.

According to him, “Any attempt to compromise a free, fair, credible and  transparent election will be resisted through all lawful means.

“We use this medium to plead with all security agencies to be very professional in discharging their duties.

“We urge them to remember that, a compromised election process is a direct invitation to anarchy. We are a peace loving people who abhor violence but will resist attempts to take us for granted.

“There is no amount of intimidation and threats that can save the APC from suffering monumental defeat come November 16. We also urge our supporters not to be provoked, no matter what.

“It is necessary that the Commission comes clean on the transmission of election results, which was a sore point in the Edo Election.

“What happened in Edo will not happen in Ondo. They have no manifesto except to say they are lucky. They want to subvert it. Our people are ready for them. Our safety guard is that the people are with us.

“The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun assured the people of Ondo State that 22,239 officers will be on duty on election day. This number, we believe is sufficient to guarantee the safety of the electorate and election materials. We condemn in very strong terms, any attempt by the Minister of Interior to use his privileged position in government to undermine peaceful election in Ondo State.

“These actions of members of the APC are clearly in violation of the Peace Accord signed by all parties participating in this election. Any attempt to compromise a free, fair, credible and transparent election will be resisted through all lawful means.

“We use this medium to plead with all security agencies to be very professional in discharging their duties. We urge them to remember that, a compromised election process is a direct invitation to anarchy. We are a peace loving people who abhor violence but will resist attempts to take us for granted.

“There is no amount of intimidation and threats that can save the APC from suffering monumental defeat come November 16. We also urge our supporters not to be provoked, no matter what.

“At the stakeholders meeting on 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election, held on Thursday, 7th November, 2024 at Akure, Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu spoke glowingly about the Commission’s readiness to transmit Election results from each Polling Unit, but the news making the rounds is contrary to the assurance earlier given by Prof. Yakubu.

“For the integrity of INEC, it is necessary that the Commission comes clean on the transmission of election results, which was a sore point in the Edo Election.”

…..APC Poised for Victory in Ondo, PDP’s Allegations Won’t Deter Us

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State Chapter, strongly denies the allegations made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding threats to peaceful elections. These claims are baseless, flimsy, and a figment of their imagination.

The APC detests any act of violence, especially in an election we are poised to win, given the enormous support our candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has received.

The allegation that an APC member was involved in a thuggery act to attack PDP members at Idanre is a fabricated story aimed at tarnishing our party’s image.

The PDP’s sudden concern about violence is a desperate attempt to divert attention from their impending defeat. They were intimidated by the massive turnout at our grand finale rally, which was attended by the National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

We also deny the involvement of the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in mobilizing officers of Nigeria Immigration Service, Customs, and Nigeria Correctional Service to participate in the Ondo election. These agencies are not mandated by law to play any role in election matters.

We advise the PDP to commit to the electoral process and assurances of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who has promised to deploy 22,239 police officers on election day. The PDP should stop spreading unnecessary fear and agitation.

The APC remains committed to a free, fair, and credible election. We urge the PDP to do the same and respect the democratic process. The people of Ondo State deserve better than baseless allegations and fear-mongering.

The PDP’s press conference was merely a desperate attempt to prepare their script for their imminent loss in the coming election. They’re trying to create a narrative to explain away their impending defeat, but the people of Ondo State won’t be fooled.

We’re confident that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa will emerge victorious, and we look forward to continuing the progress and development of our great state. Let’s focus on issue-based campaigning and allow the people to decide.

Signed,
Steve Otaloro
Director, Media & Publicity
APC, Ondo State Chapter

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