Ondo Guber: PDP, APC Disagree On Peace Accord Violation, Rigging Plots

THE two major political parties in tomorrow’s governorship election in Ondo State were at each other’s jugular, yesterday, over alleged violation of the peace accord signed by 17 political parties, candidates and stakeholders to ensure a credible and peaceful poll.

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Council, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, said in Akure, the state capital, that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, members were violating the peace accord by attacking PDP chieftains, and lamented that none of the culprits has been arrested by the police.

In a swift response, the APC described the claims as flimsy and baseless.

This happened on a day that Yiaga Africa and 45 observer groups tasked security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with a credible and violence-free election.

In response, the electoral umpire, which distributed sensitive voting materials, yesterday, assured of its readiness to midwives a free and fair exercise.

In like manner, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said security agencies would be impartial and repeat the feat they achieved in the recent Edo governorship election.

Meanwhile, PDP held the grand finale of its campaign, yesterday, which was led by its National Chairman, Umar Damagum, state governors and other national leaders of the party.

State governor’s present at the campaign held in Akure, the state capital, include the Chairman PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke; Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintri; and Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State among others.

APC thugs attacked, injured our members —PDP

Olafeso said that the attack by thugs loyal to the APC on its members in Idanre left seven persons injured.

“Otunba Olowoniyi Akinlemimu, who was seriously injured is still on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, while others are still receiving treatment after bullets were extracted from their bodies,” he said and lamented that no arrest has been made since the attack took place.

Olafeso also alleged that officers of Nigeria Immigration Service, Customs and Nigeria Correctional Service have been mobilised to participate in the Ondo election.

While condemning any attempt to undermine peaceful election in the state, Olafeso said the party has cause to believe that plans are underway to arrest opposition members.

He said the actions of members of the APC were clearly in violation of the Peace Accord signed by all parties participating in the election.

We’ll resist attempts to rig poll

“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,” he said.

Averring that a compromised electoral process is a direct invitation to anarchy, he continued: “We are a peace loving people, who abhor violence but will resist attempts to take us for granted. No amount of intimidation and threats can save the APC from suffering monumental defeat on 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 the election. Our people are ready for them. Our safety guard is that the people are with us.”

Allegations’re baseless —APC

Countering, the Director, Media & Publicity of the APC Campaign, Steve Otaloro, described the claims as baseless, flimsy, and a figment of the imagination of the opposition party.

He said that the APC was set for victory and won’t be deterred by the PDP’s allegations.

“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 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,” he said, and advised “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.”

Yiaga Africa, 45 CSOs task INEC, security agencies

Meanwhile, a leading election monitoring group, Yiaga Africa, has asked the INEC to ensure it passed integrity test during tomorrow’s governorship election.

It equally charged all security agencies that would be on duty to carry out their legitimate duties impartially.

Speaking in Akure, the Chairman for 2024 Ondo Election Mission, Yiaga Africa, Ezenwa Nwagwu, urged INEC to ensure election materials arrive early at the polling units for early commencement of balloting.

He urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone engaging in vote-buying and selling to stamp out the menace.

Nwagwu noted that the act of vote-buying and selling by politicians has greatly undermined the electoral process in the country.

He said: “We encourage security agencies to strictly enforce laws and regulations against voter-inducement, vote-buying, ballot box snatching and other electoral malpractices. Arrest and prosecute individuals and groups found engaging in illegal activities.”

He condemned violent attacks in the some towns in Ondo North senatorial district and in Idanre local government in Ondo Central senatorial district, and encouraged the electorate to go out and cast their votes and to shun inducement of any sort.

INEC must provide level playing ground —45 CSOs

In like manner, 45 INEC-accredited election observers asked the commission to be above board and live up to the expectations of Nigerians in the conduct of the exercise.

Addressing newsmen in Akure, the team leader, Comrade Fidelis Nweke, said that

the electoral management body must be above board by providing a level-playing ground to all the political parties and must be seen to be so.

Nweke said: ” We have no doubt whatsoever that the INEC under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, will live up to the expectations of not only the people of Ondo State but also Nigerians at large.

“in any democratic state, it is always necessary that elections comply with stipulated rules and guidelines to ensure a smooth power transition in line with democratic principles and global best practices, which is the essence of accrediting civil society organizations to observe any election.

“The manipulation of any electoral process leads to the emergence of an unpopular candidate as it is done against the wishes of the electorate, it is therefore an anathema and anti-democratic, as such acts are against civilized conduct by all standards.

“Statistics from 2019 estimated that over 626 Nigerians lost their lives due to election related violence while 109 persons met their untimely end in the 2023 general elections.

“It is therefore our contention that politicians must change their attitude to public office and follow the path of sanity and decorum for the overall public good.”

Security agencies will be impartial —CDS

Speaking on the readiness of the security agencies, the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, assured that they would be non-partisan in their role in the election.

Musa gave the assurance in Akure during a meeting with the head of security agencies in Ondo State ahead of the governorship poll.

The CDS said he was in the state on the directives of President Bola Tinubu to coordinate and ensure synergy among security agencies to provide cover during the election.

He charged the security forces to be professional in discharging their duties.

Musa, who commended the security forces on their conduct in the last Edo governorship election, charged them to repeat the feat in Ondo State.

“As security agencies, we are working together as a team and Ondo State has been a very peaceful place. We want to sustain that and ensure that this is the best election in Ondo State.

“I want to appeal to all Nigerians, especially good people of Ondo State, that they should all come out en-masse to vote for whom they want.

“Nobody will intimidate you, the electorate. Security forces are working like a team. We are one family as Nigerians.

“Our own job is to make sure that we provide an enabling environment, and we are going to do that. We are going to remain committed, and impartial in all we do. We are not going to take sides because we want free, fair and credible election,” he said.

He called on all heads of security agencies, particularly in the state, to monitor their men in the field so that they do not derail from their mandate.

”So, don’t allow anybody to make us look stupid. Let us do our best for the sake of Ondo State and the country at large,” he said.

The heads of security agencies including NSCDC, Nigeria Immigration Services, FRSC, Police and others all pledged their commitments to ensure their men discharge their duties well.

INEC distributes sensitive materials amid tight security

On its part, the INEC, which distributed sensitive materials pledged to conduct a transparent, free and fair election.

Ondo state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Toyin Babalola, who monitored the exercise, held at Akure branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, assured the residents of the state, political parties and all stakeholders of the commission’s readiness.

The commission distributed the ballot papers and results sheets at the CBN branch in Akure, while the distribution of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines took place at the INEC headquarters in Akure, in the presence of security agencies, representatives of political parties, the media, and observers

Babalola said that the early distribution of the sensitive materials was to show that the commission was ready for the election, promising that the commission would be transparent in the conduct of the exercise.

Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of APC in the state, Ade Adetumehin and the State Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Mr. Adesanya Olaoluwa, commended the commission on its transparency in the exercise saying all the parties were ready to cooperate with the commission.

Also, the representative of the PDP, Mr Olaniyi Ogunbuji, confirmed that the materials were intact upon inspection, adding that the distribution was well-organised with agents from all political parties present to verify the materials.

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